"Continued Learning - Key to Progress
ir
Painting used by courtesy of Lincoln First Federal Savings and
Loan Association, Spokane, for whom it was originally painted
by Norman Rockwell.
PLAN NOW TO ATTEND
For information write or call Education Weeks
Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, or
contact your local stake officers.
This is the theme of the BYU Education Weeks
(formerly Leadership Weeks) called the nation's great-
est experiment in adult education. They will be pre-
sented in 43 locations in the summer of 1964. More
than 35,000 persons attended last year. In addition
47 one-day education events are being held so that
some type of BYU class is within reach of almost
every Church member in the United States and Can-
ada. Classes will be taught by 60 BYU professors and
other local teachers in concentrated subjects in
science, religion, literature, personal development,
government, skills, and hundreds of others. Check the
following schedule for an Education Week in your
area.
ARIZONA CIRCUIT
Snowflake, Arizona June 1, 2, 3
Mesa, Arizona June 4, 5, 6
Phoenix, Arizona June 8, 9, 10
SOUTHERN NEVADA CIRCUIT
Las Vegas, Nevada June 4, 5, 6
UTAH CIRCUIT
Ogden South June 1, 2, 3
Ogden North June 4, 5, 6
Provo, BYU Campus June 8, 9, 10, 11
Jordan Valley June 17, 18, 19
Granger-Kearns June 22, 23, 24
Sugar House June 25, 26, 27
SOUTHWEST CIRCUIT
Thatcher, Arizona June 17, 18, 19
El Paso-Juarez, Texas June 22, 23, 24
Albuquerque, New Mexico June 26, 27, 29
PACIFIC NORTHWEST CIRCUIT
Portland, Oregon June 18, 19, 20
Tacoma, Washington June 23, 24, 25
Seattle, Washington June 26, 27, 29
Moses Lake, Washington July 1, 2, 3
CANADIAN NORTHWEST CIRCUIT
Calgary, Canada July 2, 3, 4
Lethbridge, Canada July 7, 8, 9
Spokane, Washington July 11, 13, 14
IDAHO CIRCUIT
Rexburg, Idaho June 18, 19, 20
Idaho Falls, Idaho June 22, 23, 24
Blackfoot, Idaho June 25, 26, 27
Pocatello, Idaho June 29, 30, July 1
Boise, Idaho July 6, 7, 8
Ontario, Oregon July 9, 10, 11
Jerome, Idaho July 13, 14, 15
Burley, Idaho July 16, 17, 18
Preston, Idaho August 26, 27, 28
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CIRCUIT
San Fernando July 22, 23, 24
Santa Barbara July 24, 25
Santa Monica July 28, 29, 30
Long Beach July 31, August 1, 3
San Diego August 6, 7, 8
Orange County August 10, 11, 12
Pasadena August 13, 14, 15
Mt. Rubidoux August 17, 18, 19
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA-NEVADA CIRCUIT
Bakersfield July 22, 23
Sacramento July 25, 27, 28
Oakland July 30, 31, August 1
Fresno August 4, 5
Reno, Nevada August 7, 8
COLORADO CIRCUIT
Denver, Colorado August 26, 27, 28
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
Exploring
the
Universe
By Dr. Franklin S. Harris Jr.
NOVEL INSECT CONTROL WORKS
Several years ago the Era reported
that male screw-worm flies bred in
captivity, sterilized by X-rays, and
released, offered promise of control
of this fly which cost about a 100
million dollar loss in cattle a year. The
basic research costs about a million
dollars. Application of this new and
novel technique of insect control in
Florida in two years practically
eliminated the insect with a savings
in Florida alone of many times the
research cost.
FORESTS OF BRAZIL
The forests of Brazil have over
twenty-five hundred different species
of trees.
WAGON ROAD IN ROCK
A wagon road four feet deep in solid
rock has been ground by the wheels
passing over the Oregon Trail along
the North Platte River near Guern-
sey, Wyoming.
PALESTINE POPULATION
The population in Palestine in the
time of David (about 975 BC) was
about three-quarters of a million,
and in the time of Isaiah (about 700
BC) about a million, compared with
about a million and a half at the
opening of the Christian era under
Roman rule. These are the esti-
mates of Professor W. F. Albright.
>UfcU>
Look for the delightfully fresh and feminine new cartons of U and I powdered
and brown sugar ... as well as fine granulated and superfine . . . same high quality . . .
same pure natural food energy . . . home-grown and home produced.
It's Pure Food Energy "From Our Land"
MAY 1964
The Improvement Era
The Voice of the Church
Official organ of the Priesthood
Quorums, Mutual Improvement
Associations, Home Teaching, Music
Committee, Department of Education,
and other agencies of The
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
Contents for May 1964
Volume 67, Number 5
Church Features
The Editor's Page: The Influence of the Temples, President David O. McKay 348
Your Question: Why Should There Be Temples
President Joseph Fielding Smith .'. 350
The Church Moves On, 340; Melchizedek Priesthood, 409; Presiding Bishopric's Page, 410.
Special Features
The Oakland Temple, Harold W. Burton, W. Aird Macdonald 380
Colored Pictures of Oakland Temple 384-385
The Purpose of the Temple, President David O. McKay 352
Colored Pictures of Temple Interiors .. 355-358
The Church in Early California, Albert L. Zobell, Jr 370
The Church in Northern California Today 374
Mothers and Grandmothers, Irma F, Bitner 363
Sportsmanship and Fair Play, Clarence Robison 364
Can the Absolute Become Obsolete? Herbert F. Murray, Jr. 408
The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Pursuit of Truth, Sterling R. Provost 368
Genealogy: Pertinent Questions Answered 366
The Spoken Word from Temple Square, Richard L. Evans 406, 416, 417
Exploring the Universe, Franklin S. Harris, Jr., 337; Letters and Reports, 342; These Times-:
Food, Dr. G. Homer Durham, 344.
Today's Family: Florence B. Pinnock, Editor
A Mother Is 412
The Era of Youth 419
The Last Word .432
Stories, Poetry
The Legacy, Virginia Maughan Kammeyer 360
Poetry 347, 359, 386, 388, 394, 400, 402, 404, 406, 416, 418
The Improvement Era Offices, 135 South State Street, Salt Lake City 11, Utah
David O. McKay and Richard L. Evans, Editors; Doyle L. Green, Managing Editor; Marba C. Josephson, Associate Managing Editor; Albert L. Zobell, Jr.,
Research Editor; Carter E. Grant, Donna Higgins, Becki Fillmore, Editorial Associates; Florence B. Pinnock, Today's Family Editor; Marion D. Hanks,
The Era of Youth Editor; Elaine Cannon, The Era of Youth Associate Editor; Art Direction: Ralph Reynolds Studio.
G. Homer Durham, Franklin S. Harris, Jr., Hugh Nibley, Sidney B. Sperhy, Alma A. Gardiner, Contributing Editors.
G. Carlos Smith, Jr., General Manager; Florence S. Jacobsen, Associate General Manager; Verl F. Scott, Business Manager; A. Glen Snarh, Subscription
Director; Thayer Evans, Advertising Director.
Copyright 1964 by Mutual Funds, Inc., and published by the Mutual Improvement Associations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All rights
reserved. Subscription price, $3.00 a year, in advance; multiple subscriptions, 2 years, $5.75; 3 years, $8.25; each succeeding year, $2.50 a year added to the
three year price.
Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, act
of October 1917, authorized July 2, 1918.
The Improvement Era is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts but welcomes contributions. Manuscripts are paid for on acceptance at the rate of 2c
a word and must be accompanied by sufficient postage for delivery and return.
Thirty days' notice is required for change of address. When ordering a change, please include address slip from a recent issue of the magazine. Address
changes cannot be made unless the old address as well as the new one is included.
ART AND PHOTO CREDITS
Art Direction: Ralph Reynolds
344 Art: Ed Maryon
350 Art: Piereey
380 to 385 Photos: Doyle L. Green
355 to 358 Photos: Lorin Wiggins and
others
358 Photo: Top Hal Rumel
360 Art: Jerry Thompson
363 Art: Virginia Sargent
364 Art: Jerry Thompson
369 Art: Dale Kilbourn
370 Art: Litho by Bosqui
372 Photos; Country Club, Washington
Township
374 Photo: Unknown
375 A Photo: Church News
375B Photo: Ed Pyle
375C Photo: Ed Pyle
375D Photo: Claudell Johnson
376A Photo: O. Wallace Kasteler
376B Photo: Ed Pyle
377A Photo: Ed Pyle
377B Photo: Church News
378A Photo: Church News
378B Photo: Ed Maryon
379 Photo: Ed Maryon
410 Art: Ed Maryon
412 Art: Virginia Sargent
431 Photo: Michael Scanlon
432 Art: Ed Maryon
All other art and photos: Ralph Reynolds
Studio
D. F. Wright, president, the
Oakland Temple
THE COVER
Yellow leaves and flowers of spring
along a wooded ravine set off the
new Oakland Temple, its gold-leaf
covered spires glistening in the
morning sun. The building is nearing
completion on a hill overlooking the
San Francisco Bay. The photograph
was taken March 26, 1964 by
Managing Editor Doyle L. Green.
For additional color photographs of
the temple taken on the same day,
see pages 384 and 385.
Cover Lithographed in full color
by Deseret News Press
338
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
DESERET BOOK PRESENTS . . .
A SEXTET OF
EXCITING NEW BOOKS
TITLE OF LIBERTY
by Ezra Taft Benson
Is there really a possibility of another crack
in the Liberty Bell? Whether you agree with
the author or not, here is a book that makes
exciting and provocative reading. Title of
Liberty is by the former Secretary of Agri-
culture on Eisenhower's Cabinet and a senior
member of the Council of the Twelve. Here
is a compilation of addresses that sound a
warning voice. <£Q gO
THE ART OF TEACHING
CHILDREN by Daryl V. Hoole
Another delightful "how-to" book by the
author of The Art of Homemaking, an LDS
best seller! Here is a volume in Mrs.'Hoole's
own inimitable style that will prove to be a
real lifesaver for teachers and parents.
$3.95
THE NATIVE BLOOD
by Albert R. Lyman
A truly delightful novel with a Southern Utah
setting . . . Full of suspense and surprises, of
conflicts and challenges, of stern reality and
enchanting romance. You'll not just read this
book, you'll live it!
$1.95
4
LATTER-DAY PROPHETS
AND THE DOCTRINE AND
COVENANTS Volume II
(Sections 42 to 76)
by Roy W . Doxey
The second volume dealing with the Doctrine
and Covenants from a fresh and exciting new
stand. The author examines these scriptures
in light of teachings of prophets and seers
from 1830 on. A book that every Latter-day
Saint will want to read. Volumes I & II
$3.95 each
AND THEY SHALL TEACH
THEIR CHILDREN
by Reed H. Bradford
In addition to providing provocative reading
on home and family life, And They Shall
Teach Their Children provides an agenda for
successful home evenings and family nights.
The qualities of maturity, the problems of
marriage, and many other pertinent subjects
skillfully handled.
5 $3.50
THE LORD SPEAKETH
by Alvin R. Dyer
A new volume providing a unique account of
the true significance of the sacred grove inter-
view with the Prophet Joseph Smith and a
gospel history from Adam and Moses through
Huss, Calvin, and Luther to Joseph Smith.
Elder Dyer's scholarly work is an adventure
in Church literature that is both illuminating
and interesting. This book will make an ideal
gift for Church members and non-members
alike' $3.50
um muiLii ■■■«.* muui
COMPANY
44 EAST SO. TEMPLE AND AT COTTONWOOD MALL
SALT LAKE CITY
2472 WASHINGTON BLVD., OGDEN
777 SO. MAIN ST., ORANGE, CALIFORNIA
Deseret Book Company
44 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
Dear Sir: Enclosed please find check money order
I have an account, please charge Amount enclosed
$ for books numbered 12 3 4 5 6
Name
Zone.. State
Residents of Utah include 3V&% sales tax.
ORDER BY MAIL »
(Era May 1964)
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Postum is a registered trademark
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The Church
Moves
On
MARCH 1964
Elder David I. Hansen sustained as president of Nevada Stake
with Elders Richard C. Jensen and Nephi G. Schwab as coun-
selors. They succeed President Donald B. Tate and his counselors,
Elders David J. Naylor and Clifford T. Utley.
Elder William H. Delves sustained as president of Sydney
(Australia) Stake succeeding President Dell C. Hunt. President
Hunt's counselors, Elders Clayton W. Lank and Warren M. Stokes
were sustained as counselors to President Delves.
The appointment of Elder George R. Hill, III, who was re-
cently released as bishop of the Federal Heights (Salt Lake
City) Ward, to the general board of the Young Men's Mutual
Improvement Association was announced. He had served on the
YMMIA general board prior to his call as bishop.
Elder Eugene W. Pearson, former first counselor to President
Jack R. Prince of Kearns North ( Utah ) Stake succeeded him as
president of that stake. Elder William L. Howick, formerly second
counselor, and Elder John M. Bevan were sustained as counselors.
The First Presidency announced the appointment of Elder
Thomas S. Monson of the Council of the Twelve as adviser to
the Western American Missions. The seven mission fields under
his immediate jurisdiction are: Northwestern States, Alaskan-
Canadian, Northern California, California, Western Canadian,
West Central States, and Western States.
The eight-foot statue of the Angel Moroni was placed atop
the LDS Church Exhibit at the New York World's Fair.
The Anchorage and the Palmer LDS chapels were damaged in
the Alaskan earthquake that struck late this afternoon. Later
it was determined that at least six members of the Church were
killed: Richard Robinson, former president of the Valdez Branch,
and five members of the Earl Smith family, also of Valdez. The
Smiths were converted to the Church one year ago.
The appointments of Mrs. Laura H. Drexl and Mrs. Mary
Christenson, both of Salt Lake City, to the general board of the
Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association was announced.
Elder Theron M. Ashcroft sustained as president of Cedar
West (Utah) Stake with Elders Morris A. Shirts and Robert B.
White, Jr., as counselors. They succeed President Franklin D. Day
and his counselors, Elder George S. Barrus and Elder White who
was re-sustained as part of the new stake presidency.
Elder T. Lavoy Esplin sustained as president of St. George
East (Utah) Stake succeeding President Rudger C. Atkin. Elder
Walter H. Snow, second counselor to President Atkin, sustained as
first counselor to President Esplin. (Continued on page 396)
340
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
il£uiUJ
W**i
NEWLY REVISED WITH COLOR
ADDED TO EVERY PAGE
UAL
Of
mm,
(now in 6 languages)
2. Spanish
£a£
i^tORlVtO^^.
4. Norwegian
(HllBlMK WtM
UGS
MOKM«ns|
iSSIKs
gSXSW
~ij__KSw
ii--
jniow»«o»riEiw
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6. German
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Finnish
The Mormon Story has been acclaimed by missionaries and mission presidents alike as an
outstanding "missionary tool."*
"The Mormon Story is almost irresistible and a good many people read it cover to cover.
It breaks down prejudice, makes friends and enlightens people all at once. Most important, it
excites the interest of the honest truth seeker, making it impossible for him to pass over us
as some sort of fanatics." — "I studied The Mormon Story book over carefully and decided
it would be a good missionary tool. We have found that where people were a bit luke warm,
we would leave a copy with them, and by the next day they were changed."
The Mormon Story has a thousand uses — as a silent missionary in your home or place of
business, as a powerful tool for missionaries, in explaining the Church to children, in pre-
senting the gospel to your friends and neighbors, in helping to reactivate members and in
many other ways. "I can tell you from experience that it is a wonderful (missionary)tool."
Send one to the missionaries in your family and keep one for your own use.
letters on file
ORDER FROM YOUR NEAREST Bi
TORIES L
IS FOR LDS
CHILDREN
by Jane Lund
A new approach to Bible reading for young mem-
bers of the Church. Printed in two colors and richly
illustrated throughout. The story of Jesus and
other Bible personalities seem to come to life for
the young reader, giving him a new concept and
understanding of the Savior and his mission.
5/64
BOOKCRAFT
1186 South. Main, Salt Lake City, Utah
Please send the following circled books
for which I enclose check or money order
for $
12 3 4 5 6 7
NAME
ADDRESS.
CITY
.STATE.
.ZIP.
Letters
and
Reports
nf^jfc ft
$t$t«m
LARGE YOUTH CHORUS SINGS
The voices were young and clear at a
recent Alberta Stake conference at Card-
ston. Music was provided by a chorus of
142 young people. Conductor Barton
Olsen led the group through music for
both Sunday sessions, with Eda Wood and
Thelma Smith accompanying.
PROVO SEA SCOUTERS HOLD
REUNION
The S. S. Hanno sailed in on a sea of
memories, when former Sea Scouts who
had belonged to the Sea Scout Ship Hanno
met in the Provo Fourth (Utah) Ward for
a reunion and report meeting.
Twenty-one men, representing the 84
boys who belonged to the ship between
1939 and 1950 gathered. They discovered
that most of their members had served on
missions and are active in the Church,
serving or having served as bishops, bish-
ops' counselors, high council members, and
Sunday School and Mutual superintendents.
Despite the fact that almost all of them
are veterans and several were shot down,
wounded, and held in enemy prison
camps, not a single man lost his life in war.
Under Skipper Delbert V. Tregeagle
and Delos Brown, seventy-five percent of
the group achieved Eagle rank.
SEA SCOUT SHIP "HANNO" HOME-
COMING-REUNION-Bottom Row, 1. to
r. Einer Johnson, Glen Gardner, Shipley
Snow, Skipper Deb Tregeagle, J. Wallace
Boswell, Ship Committee Chairman; Bish-
op Victor J. Bird, and Counselors Charles
D. Sessions and Frank J. Earl; Rulon
Doman, Scout Executive.
Middle Row— Mauray Payne, Jack Ben-
nett, Jay Nixon, Clinton Wiest, Dick Hales,
Delvar Pope, Ralph Rigby, Dean Jeffs,
Wayne Brown.
Top Row-Carl Cox, Phil Taylor, Lor-
raine Dowdell, Dayle Jeffs, Bob Hales,
Charles Earl, Dean Rigby, DeLoyal Bills,
Sterling Sessions.
A ~K JMR * .<m »w Bit ^M(M»- „ M^^B. .<4K
ERA GIFT IS MISSIONARY
This magazine has been a great source
of encouragement. We have enjoyed read-
ing the talks given by the Authorities of
our Church, and the articles have, on more
than one occasion given inspiration for a
talk in Church.
Traveling to school one day (which he
attends one day a month in connection
with his work) Charlie was reading the
Era, and a person sitting beside him, look-
ing over his shoulder, no longer could re-
sist asking what the magazine was. He
said it was the most attractive and inter-
esting book he had seen, and could it be
bought at any bookstall? Having read the
most interesting articles, Charlie handed
it to this delighted gentleman.
Thank you once again for this pleasing
gift.
Yours sincerely,
Sister Lorna Wilde
Mitcham. Surrey,
England
ERA CIRCULATES IN BARRACKS
Yes, this subscription has truly brought
me "many hours of enjoyable reading." I
think you will know what I mean when
I say this magazine is so completely differ-
ent, so inspiring and extremely welcome
when compared to the many pornographic
novels and pocketbooks that float through
the barracks. I have made it a point to
see that each issue gets maximum circu-
lation in my barracks and I have received
many compliments on the freshness and
change it presents to those who pick it
up if only to browse through it.
Let me express my appreciation for this
program you have of getting The Im-
provement Era to the servicemen, it is
very profitable and greatly appreciated.
Appreciatively yours,
Robert N. Oviatt
Henderson, Nevada
342
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
or Sale ...
LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY
Silver Creek Estates
^mmm^mmm,
Good Timing is mighty important when you buy
a piece of land . . . whether you're buying as an
investment or for your own home. At beautiful
Silver Creek Estates, the time to buy is NOW!
Already a perfect locale for sunshiny, country
living . . . your Silver Creek Estate tract will
become even more desirable and valuable as
NATURAL BEAUTY- CONVENIENT
LOCATION
Just 25 expressway miles from downtown Salt
Lake City, Silver Creek Estates offers a variety
of beautiful homesites, each with a sweeping
view in all directions. And the beauty is pro-
tected by architectural regulations and protective
covenants.
OUT OF THE SMOKE AND FOG
At Silver Creek Estates, you're away from the
irritating winter "smog" and out of the blister-
ing summer heat of the city. No industrial fumes,
just clean, crisp air; bright, sparkling sunshine.
A NATURAL "GROWTH" AREA
Because of the intense pressures of Salt Lake
City - Ogden - Provo population expansion, the
demand for desirable residential development
areas will be greater and greater. With its con-
venient location and its many physical attrac-
tions, Silver Creek Estates should prove to be a
new suburb of Salt Lake City in the not-too-
distant future. When the new Highway 80 Free-
way is completed, accessibility to beautiful Silver
Creek Estates will be even more convenient.
ABUNDANT RECREATION FACILITIES
Name your favorite recreation, and you'll find
it close to Silver Creek Estates . . . hunting, fish-
ing, camping, hiking, golfing, water-skiing, boat-
ing, horseback riding, skiing and more!
Drive up Parley's Canyon (U.S. 40) to Silver Creek
Estates Office, at Silver Creek Junction and personally inspect
this property ... or PHONIs Salt Lake City 363-6100.
time goes on, because later you can sub-divide
your property into 5 or 6 Western-size home-
sites for re-sale at what should be a handsome
profit. And, right now, you need only 10% down
with ten years to pay the unpaid balance at only
6% simple interest. No wonder Silver Creek
Estates tracts are called "Lots of Opportunity!"
priced as $5000
low as
$6750
$500
$675 down
$50
$6750 month
Solitude I
Brighton
*t
To D.eer Creek I Reservoir
Only 28 10-acre tracts left in Unit C
(Unit C tracts vary in size from 5 to 17 acres.)
Natural gas, electric power, telephone service and water are all
nearby and available. Water well rights are included. Crowned,
graded roads are extended to each tract. No closing cost. No
hidden charges. You get Title Insurance Policy and Special
Warranty Deed when contract is paid up.
SEND COUPON FOR FREE LITERATURE
To: Project Manager
Silver Creek Ranch Corporation
P.O. Box 1537, Salt Lake City, Utah
SILVER CREEK ESTATES
Zone.
. State .
SILVER CREEK JUNCTION
MAY 1964
343
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FOOD
THESE TIMES
By Dr. G. Homer Durham
President, Arizona State University, Tempe
"What is there to eat?"
How many times each day is this
remark heard! Fortunately, for most
readers of this column, there is gen-
erally at least some positive answer.
In much of the world this is not true.
For some interesting views on this
important subject, we are indebted
to Dr. Ira L. Baldwin, director of
the International Rural Development
Office of the Association of State
Universities and Land-Grant Col-
leges, who recently spoke on the
world food problem at the University
of Wisconsin.
Dr. Baldwin divides the world into
two areas: (1) the area of food
plenty, and (2) the area of want.
The area of plenty includes about
one-third of the population and in-
cludes the industrialized nations of
Europe (including Russia), North
America, Australia, New Zealand,
and Japan. The area of chronic
shortage includes Latin America
( which may be surprising to many ) ,
Africa, and Asia, with the exception
of Japan. This does not mean every
individual in the area of "scarcity"
is undernourished. The greatest
number of undernourished people,
however, are found in those coun-
tries. Furthermore, there are many
undernourished people in the coun-
tries that have adequate food supply,
due to "poor food habits, lack of
knowledge of nutrition, and insuffi-
cient finances."
If people everywhere were fed as
well as most people in the United
States, 50 percent more food would
be required than is now grown.
The lack of protein, particularly of
well-balanced protein, states Dr.
Baldwin, is among the most difficult
problems. Nearly eight pounds of
grain are required to produce a
pound of animal protein, the best
source. Experiments with use of
algae, yeast, microbial protein, and
fish will not supply more than a
small fraction of the additional pro-
tein now estimated as needed. Popu-
lation growth in the areas of food
scarcity aggravates the situation.
Asia, Africa, and Latin America are
growing more rapidly in population
than other regions. By 1975, the
world will have increased from 3.2
billion to 3.8 billion people. Food
production per capita in 1960-61 in
the "scarcity" areas was actually less
than it was in 1935-39. By the year
2000, based on estimates of reliable
344
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Count the Churches of your denomination
which have bought a Hammond Organ
You can, quite literally, count the
churches in your area— or in the
nation— which, with musical needs
akin to your own, decided to buy a
Hammond Organ. Simply visit your
Hammond Organ dealer. Let him
show you the Hammond Installa-
tions directory, above. Get the
names and addresses of as many
churches as you want. Then, hear a
demonstration— and consider these
reasons why thousands of churches
choose the Hammond:
Vast Musical Riches
Hammond Console and Spinet
Organs have almost inexhaustible
musical resources, in registrations,
voices and shadings. Even a virtu-
oso can always find new effects in
the instrument ... yet organists of
limited experience can immediately
produce impressive music. Presets
and Hammond Harmonic Draw-
bars enable any player to achieve
rich, impressive music. Hammond
Patented Reverberation produces
swelling cathedral sound in the
smallest church. Touch-Response
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You can put this complete musical
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i ,
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MAY 1964
345
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346
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
authorities, there will need to be a
quadrupling of food output. Whether
the adoption of scientific methods
in food production, incentives for
increased production, necessary capi-
tal, research, and education, and
facilities can be developed represents
future challenging problems.
Egypt was once the breadbasket
of the ancient world. Today, North
America holds this position. Annual
grain production has doubled per
capita in the past twenty-five years.
Dr. Baldwin notes that during the
past twenty years the United States
"has given liberally of its substance
... to aid the peoples in the areas
of food scarcity, both by aiding them
to increase their own production of
food and by supplying food from
our own stores.
What is there to eat?
"The basic problem in the world
today," declared Dr. Baldwin, "is
that of food production adequate to
balance a rapidly expanding popu-
lation. We, in the areas of food
plenty, dare not adopt the attitude
that this is not our problem. A
balance between food production
and population will be reached. If
it is not reached by desirable social
means, it will be reached by the
ancient methods of famine, pesti-
lence, and war. We urgently need to
get on with the job of increasing pro-
duction and improving distribution."
So runs some of the thinking in
these times by a thoughtful scientist.
In ancient times, Jacob sent his sons
to Egypt for bread. How can
modern men stay home and con-
quer famine?
CONCLUSION
BY MARIE DAERR
Spring thinks she has her way with us.
She smiles to see our eyes
When we glimpse gold forsythia bells
Against blue April skies.
She's pleased when we are gladdened
by
A robins morning call
Or bend to sniff the hyacinths
Beside a garden wall.
She chuckles when she catches us
In dreamy reverie
Beneath the cloud-pink branches of
A blooming apple tree.
She laughs with us when we behold
A fledgling's awkward flight ....
Spring thinks she has her way with
us—
And, oh, I think she's right!
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MAY 1964
347
The Oakland Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints is soon to be dedicated. This
temple, like many of our other temples, stands upon
a hill. It is a spiritual beacon for all to see and to
guide their lives thereby.
Our temples have a special place in the Church
aside from the ordinances given and performed within.
They are lights upon the hill. Their light should not
be hidden. A temple exerts or should exert a con-
tinuous influence upon the people, especially the
youth. I cannot illustrate what I mean better than by
referring to the wonderful story of The Great Stone
Face by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
That author called attention to one of nature's
wonders. When one stood a certain distance from it,
he saw a benign countenance which, Hawthorne
wrote, exerted a great influence upon the people of
the valley below. To use his own words he said:
"It was a happy lot for children to grow up to man-
hood or womanhood with the Great Stone Face be-
fore their eyes. For all the features were noble and
the expression was at once, grand and sweet as if it
were the glow of a vast warm heart— a heart that em-
braced all mankind in the affections and had room
for more. It was an education only to look at it."
He tells that a mother and her small son were sitting
in the valley looking at that stone face, and Ernest
said, "Mother, I wish that it could speak, for it looks
so very kindly that its voice must needs be pleasant.
If I were to see a man with such a face, I should love
him dearly."
And the mother told him then the story that some-
day a man would come and have just such a benign
countenance as that.
You, who know the story, realize that "Gathergold"
came back to the valley. It was not he nor "Blood
and Thunder," the great soldier, who also returned
to his former home. It was not "Old Stony Phiz" the
great lawyer and politician who ran for president. It
was not even the poet, but Ernest, himself, who lived
a life of good deeds and holy love. Ernest had in-
deed become, by constantly looking, living, and loving,
the representation of the Great Stone Face.
That is what I mean. Our temples should exert an
influence upon the youth of our Church: inspiring,
developing self-mastery, changing their natures so
that someday they might enter the temples.
If a man obtain the fullest life for himself and be
able to contribute most to the common good, he
should cultivate certain cardinal virtues, among
which I name the following: faith, self-control, chas-
tity, reverence, and a willingness to serve others. The
temples of the Church stand for these principles, and
never before in the history of the world was there
such a need for faith to be instilled into the minds
and hearts of the children of the world— God's children!
The Influence of the Temples
348
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Each temple erected by the Church attracts people
who pass, who read, who hear, and witness the fact
that the building is a house of God, a temple to the
Most High. Its very existence, its walls, and all per-
taining to it declare his reality, his love, and his plan
of salvation. We would like every boy and every
girl in the world and particularly every boy and every
girl in the Church to recognize the temple as our
Father's house. That is what I mean by temples
building character.
Someone wrote many years ago that the whole
purpose of life might be summed up in these words,
"To subdue matter that we might realize the ideal."
When I first read that, I thought it could be para-
phrased to read, "The whole purpose of life is to bring
under subjection the animal passions, proclivities, and
tendencies that we might realize the companionship
always of God's Holy Spirit." That is the ideal. Our
chief purpose of life is to overcome evil tendencies,
to govern our appetites, and to control our passions.
We must overcome them. We must conquer them.
We must teach young people to live so that they
can enter the house of God and make covenants, the
dearest and most sacred in all the world. In youth
they should take cognizance of the fact that they will
have to control their appetites and their passions if
they would enter the temple worthily.
Preparation for the temple is during youth, not just
when they go to the bishop for their temple recom-
mends. This is what is meant by having the house of
God as a light to the Church. It is one of the greatest
means of character building in the Church.
The temple stands for everything that is virtuous
and should be looked upon as Ernest looked upon the
Great Stone Face. Let the thoughts, the ideals, and
the nobility of the temple transform the youth, the
boy and girl, so that when they go to the bishop,
they can answer honestly, truthfully, and when they
enter the temple they may receive, without question,
those blessings that are intended for the faithful.
Every temple that stands, no matter in what part
of the world, should ever be a light influencing mem-
bers of the Church, young and old, to develop those
characteristics which transform a human being
prompted by animal instinct into a spiritual being
responsive to the promptings of God our Heavenly
Father. Ultimately each one should be able to say
as Peter said after fewer than three years' service
accompanying the Master and a few more years in
serving him, "We are now made partakers of his
divine nature." (See 2 Peter 1:4.)
God bless you who will come to partake of the
spirit and the blessings of the new Oakland Temple
of the Church, even as he daily blesses those of our
fellow members who enter our other temples through-
out the world.
THE EDITOR'S PAGE / BY PRESIDENT DAVID O. MCKAY
MAY 1964
349
YOUR
QUES-
TION
ANSWERED BY
JOSEPH
FIELDING
SMITH
PRESIDENT OF
THE COUNCIL
OF THE TWELVE
Why should there
be temples :
?
Soon the Oakland Temple will be ready for dedica-
tion. The question has been raised: "Why should
there be temples and what are the significant duties
which are to be performed therein?"
The temple as designated by revelation is a sacred
house in which certain important blessings and cove-
nants are given to faithful members of the Church
preparatory to their exaltation in the kingdom of God.
We have no record of the building of temples before
the flood nor for several centuries following. This
lack of information does not mean that such sacred
structures were not known. The Bible account of
humanity covering the years from Adam to the flood
and down to Abraham is extremely limited, and the
detailed history is not given. We do know that in the
days of Enoch, before the flood and following to
the days of Abraham, the seers holding the priesthood
when they wished to converse with the Lord, did so
usually on mountaintops, and it is likely that these
exalted places served the purpose of a temple. It was
on such a mountain that Enoch talked with the Lord
as did the Brother of Jared, the leader of the Jaredites
following the flood, thus these exalted places took the
place of edifices as hallowed spots.
When Israel was released from Egyptian bondage
and went into the wilderness of Arabia, one of the
first commandments given to Moses was to build a
temple. It had to be a portable building that could
be set up and taken down and moved from place to
place as Israel journeyed for forty years in the wilder-
ness. However the Lord required this portable
tabernacle, or temple, to be of the most expensive
materials that Israel could afford. In this portable
temple Moses and Aaron received commandments
from the Lord. As Israel moved from place to place
on this forty-year journey, this building had to be
taken apart and set up again constantly. When Israel
350
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
W^W^^tk
became settled in the land the Lord had given them,
this tabernacle ( temple ) served until the days of King
Solomon. The Lord gave a commandment that a
regular temple should be built, therefore the magnifi-
cent temple of Solomon was built in the city of
Jerusalem, wherein the Lord gave revelation where
sacred ordinances were performed.
This temple served Israel for sacred purposes
through the years. During the captivity of Israel the
temple was desecrated, for it had fallen into the
hands of enemies. On the return of the Jews from
captivity the temple was repaired and served the Jews
until its destruction after the crucifixion of our Savior.
The time will come according to sacred promises
when it will be restored again.
During all the years of apostasy and until after
the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, there was no sacred temple to the
name of the Lord. The Latter-day Saints were com-
manded to build a temple, which they did in Kirtland,
Ohio. This was essential for the Lord who said so
by revelation, had to have a place where he could
come to his servants to restore the keys of authority
so essential to the eternal blessings of the Latter-day
Saints in this dispensation. Since that day the Latter-
day Saints have been true to this commandment and,
notwithstanding their persecutions and poverty, they
built such a temple in Nauvoo, which, however,
through persecution they were able to use but for a
very short period. However, hundreds of faithful
members of the Church received their endowments
and sacred blessings and were married in the Nauvoo
Temple before they were driven away by enemies of
the Church. When the first pioneers arrived in the
Salt Lake Valley, steps were taken to build a temple,
for they realized its importance and the need of the
sacred ordinances which belong and are essential
to the eternal salvation and exaltation of Latter-day
Saints in the celestial kingdom of God.
This temple in Oakland is nearing dedication and
brings rejoicing to the good Saints in the great state
of California. Moreover, the great work for the salva-
tion of the living and the dead who never had the
opportunity of salvation when on the earth, and the
perpetual union of "the whole family in heaven and
earth is named," is faithfully being performed.
MAY 1964
351
PTT12PMQT7
OF
THF
TEMELES
BY PRESIDENT DAVID O. McKAY
From remarks made at the dedication
of the Swiss Temple^ and other sources
The spire of the Kirtland Temple.
This was the first temple built by
the Church in this dispensation.
352
One of the principal questions asked by reporters,
newsmen, and by people generally is, "What is the
difference between your temple and your other church
edifices?" As all members of the Church know, the
answer is that temples are built for the performance of
sacred ordinances— not secret, but sacred.
One of the distinguishing features of the restored
Church of JesuS Christ is the eternal nature of its
ordinances and ceremonies; for example, generally in
civil as well as in church ceremonies, couples are
married "for time" only, or "until death do you
part." But love is as eternal as the spirit of man;
and if man continues after death, which he does, so
will love.
This interests nearly every intelligent inquirer and
investigator, especially when he or she realizes the
truth, that love— the divinest attribute of the human
soul— will be just as eternal as the spirit itself. So
whenever any person dies, the virtue of love will
persist, and if any inquirer believes in the immortality
of the soul or in the persistence of personality after
death, he must admit that love will also persist.
Logically, there follows another question: Whom
shall we love in the next world? In response to this
question, an American woman whom, with her hus-
band, t met many years ago on a journey in the South
Seas, replied, "We should love everybody."
"Yes," I replied, "we should also love everybody
here." That is the injunction of the Savior, to love
our neighbor as ourselves. But if earthly things are
typical of heavenly things, in the spirit world we shall
recognize our loved ones there and know them as we
loved them here. I love my wife more than I can
love other people. I love my children. I can have
sympathy; I can have a desire to help all mankind,
but I love her by whose side I have sat and watched
a loved one in illness, or, perhaps, pass away. Those
experiences bind heart to heart, and it is a glorious
thought to cherish that death cannot separate hearts
that are thus bound together; for each of you hus-
bands will recognize your wife in the other world,
and you will love her there as you love her here and
will come forth to a newness of everlasting life in
the resurrection. Why should death separate you
when love will continue after death?
It should not, and it need not, for when Jesus was
upon the earth he told his Apostles: "And I will give
unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:19.) And with
the restoration to earth of the Holy Priesthood, the
Church asserts that this power was again given to
chosen men, and that in the house of the Lord where
the marriage ceremony is performed by those who
are properly authorized to represent our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, the union between husband and
wife and between parents and children is effected for
time and all eternity, and that for those thus married
the family will continue into the eternities.
That is one purpose of temples.
There is another purpose— not so easily understood
by inquirers until they get a glimpse of the justice of
God or until we ask them: "Do you think that a just
God would require me to conform to certain principles
arid ordinances in order for me to enter into the
kingdom of God, and that he would permit you to
enter the kingdom of God without complying with
those principles and ordinances?"
Those who accept Jesus Christ our Lord as the
author of salvation: those who accept his statements-
unqualified statements— regarding the necessity of
obedience to certain principles, are bound to admit
that everybody must comply with certain fundamental
ordinances or else nobody need comply with them.
Now that is the plain fact.
We have as you know in holy writ ample evidence
that the Savior referred to one eternal plan; for in-
stance, when Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin,
—a man who had evidently listened to the Savior
speak and who had probably followed him— called on
Jesus, impelled by the desire to know what Jesus had
which the Sadducees and the Pharisees did not have,
and bore his testimony, saying, "Master, we know
that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man
can do these miracles that thou doest, except God
be with him." And then ensued the conversation in
which Nicodemus undoubtedly asked, "What must
I do?" And one of the most remarkable statements
we have in scripture was given as an answer: ". . .
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God." And "Nicodemus saith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is old?" All Chris-
tians believe or should believe in the words that
Jesus answered: ". . . Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
of God." (John 3:2-5.) And that is true.
The words of the Savior to Nicodemus are accepted
in their literal sense by faithful members of the
Church. The scriptures make no distinction between
MAY 1964
353
i$&00^^
/
Spiral stairway in Manti Temple.
A rare photograph of the Kirtland Temple.
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*
An artist's conception of Nauvoo
the living and the dead. This law is of universal
application, exemption being granted only to children
who die in infancy, having no sin to expiate. To
provide a means of salvation for all, facilities are made
available in the temples whereby the living may be
baptized in behalf of the deceased.
Evidence that such vicarious work was performed
in the early Christian church is found in the words of
Paul to the Corinthians: "Else what shall they do
which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not
at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"
(1 Cor. 15:29.)
The pseudo-Christian world has stumbled over
the meaning of this simple text, and not a few
commentators have tried to explain away its true
applicability to all mankind of the Savior's teachings.
To repeat, if baptism is essential for one man, it is
essential for all. Then the question may be asked as
was asked by a Chinese student, a graduate of one
of our leading colleges, who in conversation with a
Protestant minister, said, "What about my ancestors
who never heard of the name of Jesus Christ?"
from across the Mississippi River.
"Oh," was the reply, "they are all lost."
The Chinese student's sense of justice was offended,
for he immediately said, "I'll have nothing to do with
a religion so unjust!" Had that Chinese professor, or
doctor, asked a Mormon elder that question, the latter
would have answered, "They will have an opportunity
to hear the gospel, and to be baptized, to be born of
the water and of the Spirit, that they might also enter
into the kingdom of God."
What about your great-great ancestors who never
have heard of the name of Jesus Christ? What about
the millions who died without having heard his name?
They are all our Father's children as much as you
and I. Is it the act of a Loving Father to condemn
them forever outside of the kingdom of God because
they have had no opportunity to hear the name of
Jesus Christ?
No, it is not. "We believe that ... all mankind may
be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances
of the Gospel." And we also believe that those who
have died without having heard the gospel here in
mortality will have (Continued on page 359)
354
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
In the Creation Room, in the Salt Lake Temple colorful murals represent the creation of the earth.
*IST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
The World Room in the Salt Lake Temple is symbolic of
the bleak and dreary world into which Adam and Eve were
driven after they partook of the forbidden fruit.
MAY 1964
355
■pi
■■•
In this Council Room in the Salt Lake Temple,
the First Presidency and the Council of the
Twelve hold weekly meetings Thursday morn-
ings.
Marriages in the temples are performed in
rooms such as this one in the Manti Temple.
Here couples are sealed for time and eternity.
The Celestial Room in the Idaho Falls Temple.
■MsjSakJ1'
A "'\
s
msbHt
The Celestial Room in
the Salt Lake Temple.
These richly furnished
rooms symbolize the
exalted attainment
which man may
achieve by living ac-
cording to the saving
principles of the
gospel.
In the Terrestrial
Rooms, such as this
one in the Salt Lake
Temple, instructions
are given pertaining
to man's eternal jour-
ney.
A mural in the Los Angeles Temple pictures the bleak and dreary world.
A mural in the Arizona Temple
depicts Joseph and Hyrum Smith preaching
the gospel to a group of Indians.
A Sealing Room in the Salt Lake Temple where
couples are married for time and all eternity,
not just "till death do you part."
Baptismal fonts in the temples, like this one in Salt Lake, rest on the figures of twelve oxen.
(Continued from page 354) an opportunity to hear
it in the other world.
Where did Christ's Spirit go while his body lay in
the tomb? The Apostle Peter tells us that he went to
preach to the spirits who were in prison, who were
once disobedient in the days of Noah when the ark
was being prepared. (See 1 Pet. 3:19-20.) Those who
died thousands of years ago were still living in the
spirit world, and the gospel was taken to them as it
will be taken to all of our Father's children.
This, then, is another purpose of the temple. You
may have the opportunity of gathering the names of
your ancestors, who, being baptized by proxy, may
become members of the kingdom of God in the other
world as we are members here.
Since the restoration of this principle and practice,
church members have zealously searched the records
of the world for the history of their ancestors that
their forefathers might receive vicariously the bless-
ings of the gospel of Christ. In connection with this
work the Church maintains an extensive gene-
alogical organization.
These two great purposes— eternal marriage, bind-
ing the family for time and eternity, and opening the
door of the kingdom for those who have died without
an adequate opportunity to accept the gospel of
Jesus Christ and its essential ordinances— when
preached properly, earnestly, and sincerely to the
honest in heart, will appeal to the justice of those
who love the truth.
In addition there is the temple "endowment," which
is also an ordinance pertaining to man's eternal journey
and limitless possibilities and progress which a Just
and Loving Father has provided for the children
whom he made in his own image— for the whole
human family.
This is why temples are built.
God help us to appreciate the restored gospel of
Jesus Christ in its all-embracing justice and mercy
and glorious eternal plan. The whole purpose and
meaning of life is contained in it, with its great sav-
ing and ennobling ordinances that will take the indi-
vidual to his highest possibilities here and hereafter
with an everlasting association with his loved ones in
the presence of God.
I pray with all my soul that all the members of the
Church, their children and their children's children—
and all men everywhere— may at least glimpse the
glory of the house of the Lord and have wisdom to
understand and strength to apply the principles of
the gospel of Jesus Christ, which are eternal and
applicable to every person living, in developing that
spirituality which will bring peace on earth and good-
will toward men.
IN THE SHADOW
OF THE TEMPLE
BY MARION AMY KNIGHT
And as I walked beneath the spires,
My soul tvithin me stirred!
I heard the singing of the choir;
I felt a hungering for his Word.
I ivalked today in Temple Square
With slow, unhurried gait.
I think the flowers are fairer there;
The seasons seem to wait.
My earthly ears are not attuned
To holy realms on high,
But I am sure I faintly heard
The rush of angels in the sky.
I gazed about this peaceful place
And fell beneath its spell.
The sun gleamed on Moroni's face;
I heard a distant bell.
Could this be just a minute taste
Of heaven's encircling clime?
If this should really be the case,
I must make haste to make it mine!
MAY 1964
359
t«*,*&#,im&M*^mM*^i>M*,»imvmm»mKm«^%«
.*.... Il^-I - - ■■ -—.I
The Legacy
BY VIRGINIA MAUGHAN KAMMEYER
At a shout from the wagon master, the long line of
prairie schooners ground to a halt. Then the men on
horseback and the women and children slowly plodded
up the mountain trail. It was good to rest for a mo-
ment. Those in front pulled their weary bodies up
to the rock and looked down into the valley. The
hillsides were splashes of color— quaking aspen yellow
and maple red. It was September, 1850.
"Ma," called a weak voice from one of the wagons,
"are we in the Sierras? Is it Sacramento down there?"
"No," the woman answered wearily. "We're scarce
halfway. It's only the Salt Lake Valley."
Melissa Harris lay back, suddenly faint with pain.
She'd been bitten by something Pa called a wood tick,
and she lay in the jolting wagon suffering with a raging
fever. It would be Melissa, of course, who got sick.
Every ailment, it seemed like, got to her. Her sister
Polly had never had a sick day in her life.
The rocking and jolting of the wagons, the squealing
of brakes, the cracking of whips, and bellowing of
the oxen finally ceased, and the wagon under Melissa
rolled more smoothly. Up from the wheels came the
heavy scent of crushed sagebrush, and she knew they
had come out onto the broad floor of the valley.
Curiosity mastered pain, and she raised herself on
her good elbow to peer through the front opening past
Polly and her mother, driving the team.
So that was Salt Lake City! It didn't look like
much, compared to Pittsburgh, but after months of
seeing nothing but prairies and mountains it looked
like heaven. There was a long pole fence zigzagging
off to the south past some log and adobe cabins, and
they had to wait for a while until a man opened the
gate and let them through. It looked funny, that
great long fence closing in those few cabins, and
Melissa, a little delirious, giggled.
Then she heard the man explain: "It's to keep the
horses and cattle from eating the crops. All livestock
have to graze outside. When you've got your family
settled, you'll have to take your team outside
the fence."
Melissa could almost feel her father bristle at this.
Pa didn't like to take orders. He would rather give
them. That was why he had left Pittsburgh. It was
getting too crowded— too many people giving orders.
But in California, now—. That was one word that
could brighten Pa's gloomy face: "California." Why,
it was said that a man could get rich enough in the
gold fields in one week to set himself up for life. You
could make your pile and then settle down in Sacra-
mento, or maybe San Francisco, and never have to
bow down to any man.
The wagon started up again, and the oxen plodded
down a rutted road. Melissa dozed and came awake
when the wagon stopped once more. A voice was say-
ing, "This is my front yard, neighbor. I haven't had
time to mark it off, what with one thing and another.
However," the voice continued, as Luke Harris raised
his whip to flick the oxen into movement again, "you're
welcome to camp here. Having crossed the plains
myself, I'd be the last to deny a resting place to a
tired man. Where are you bound?"
"California," the other said, mollified by the friendly
tone. "If you'll just let us stay here overnight, and
maybe let us have a bit of water, we'll take ourselves
off in the morning."
"Oh, please," Melissa's mother broke in, exhaustion
and anxiety in her voice. "Pa, please, ask him if we
can't stay here two or three days. You see, Mister—."
"Strong— Amos Strong."
"Mister Strong, we have a sick girl in the back here,
real sick. If we could stay just a few days, until
she's better—."
"Well, now—," Amos Strong raised the back flap
of the wagon and peered in. "Well, now, I'll get
Mother to take a look at her, and we'll see what we
can do."
As Amos Strong went toward the house, Melissa
heard her father's voice raised in angry protest. "Two
—three days! Why, every day we delay, means
someone else is digging out that gold!"
"Pa—." Mrs. Harris didn't often stand up to her
husband, but now her voice was firm. "I'm not going on
until that girl is better!"
360
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
''Tonight," she heard a stranger
say to his friend, "we are going
to celebrate. . . . I'm going to cook something
special, Polver, old man!
Chicken Tetrazzini."
.:tsl||L.*».-»— .>
. ... . .;■■ . :;. '>.-.-
Melissa shut her eyes, and the hot tears squeezed
through her lids. "I'm sorry, Pa," she whispered. "I'm
sorry I'm sick, and I'm sorry I'm a girl when you
wanted a boy, and I'm sorry I'm so little and puny,
and fifteen years old and never had a beau, and I'll
probably be an old maid, and you'll have me on your
hands all the rest of your life."
The wagon flap was suddenly raised, and arms went
around her. As she was lifted out, the agony in her
arm was too much, waves of dizziness overcame her,
and she lost consciousness.
When she came around, she was in a warm lighted
room, lying on a soft feather mattress. Her twelve-
year-old sister, Polly, sat in plump concern by the
bed. Her mother was bathing her forehead with a
cool cloth, and another woman, dark and pleasant-
looking— obviously Mrs. Strong— stood near the table
ladling fragrant soup into bowls. Two small children
played near the fireplace.
Melissa's eyes swung around to the foot of the bed.
There stood a young man— really a boy— about sixteen
or seventeen. At sight of him, Melissa felt miserable.
She knew she looked awful— more awful than usual.
What would a boy like that, or any boy, ever see in
her? This young man was very dark— dark eyes, dark
curly hair, and he had a look of not having quite
grown up yet to his long arms and legs.
Melissa would have been startled, astounded beyond
belief, if she could have read his thoughts. Her hair
had been taken out of its braids, and it lay about her
face looking, so the young man thought, like
spilled honey.
"She's like Sleeping Beauty," Jared Strong was
thinking, and was immediately embarrassed, as though
his thoughts had been read. He had the strongest
desire to take the cloth from Mrs. Harris and wipe
the pale forehead himself. He controlled the impulse
and swung away to help his mother at the table. But
when Melissa slept, and then woke again, he was
there once more at the foot of the bed.
It was two weeks before she was able to sit up in
the wagon that had been made more comfortable by
the addition of one of the Strongs' mattresses. It was
a month before she was able to walk. Her father had
fretted and fumed at the delay, but when snow ap-
peared in the mountains in early October, he
grudgingly conceded that it might be better to stay
over until spring.
"Amos Strong is going to build a barn. He says
we can stay in it through the winter."
There was relief in the tired face of Mrs. Harris at
this news. Her husband continued, "I'm going with
him into the hills tomorrow to cut logs. I won't be
beholden to any man."
Touchy and proud, Luke Harris was not an easy
man to live with, but as he stomped off to make ar-
rangements for the following day, his wife softly said a
little prayer of thanks that they would be safely
sheltered for the winter.
The harvest was in— and it was good. The Saints
proposed to celebrate, and the strangers among them
looked on in astonishment as these ordinarily quiet,
hard-working people made preparations for their
harvest home. To the bowery they flocked with fruit,
gourds, and autumn leaves, and soon that forty-foot
framework, which on other occasions was used for
sober gatherings, was sprouting gay colors. Boxes
were pulled from under beds, and party dresses, not
worn for months, were shaken out of their folds.
Trestle tables were set up near the bowery, and food
began to appear: golden loaves of bread, made from
the precious grain of the first harvest; berry pies,
sweetened with honey; roasts of venison, and piles of
grapes and apples.
The fiddles tuned up, and the people swung into a
dance. The California immigrants, watching in sur-
prise, began hesitant foot tapping. Soon they were
dancing, too. The Mormon leader himself, Brigham
Young, led the quadrille.
Luke Harris, not taking to such foolishness, had
stayed at home, but his wife and daughters had ac-
cepted the invitation of the Strongs to go to the
festivities with them. Melissa, still a little pale and
thin, but with her eyes shining, sat with Jared on the
end of the wagon. Polly and her mother occupied
the back seat and Mr. and Mrs. Strong sat up front,
while the two little Strongs romped in the straw.
Melissa, wearing her one nice dress— the blue sprigged
one— was conscious of many things: that it was a crisp,
October night, that she looked nice, and that Jared
was watching her.
He had been around often lately, when he had
time off from his chores. While she was convalescing,
he had brought her bouquets of wild flowers, and he
had begun to read to her in the evenings from some-
thing called the Book of Mormqp. Melissa found it
very interesting— almost like the Bible. The first day
that she had felt well enough to go for a walk, he had
strolled with her out into the town, and they had
turned east and walked to the city limit, where the
fence ran. He told her the fence went north and south
for about six miles, closing in approximately 4,000
acres. "This will be a big city someday," he said
confidently. He told her about the first crop they had
planted that had been invaded by the crickets, and
then miraculously saved by the seagulls. The plain
faith shining in his face and his emphatic statement
that it was the hand of God touched Melissa's heart,
though she could not as yet accept it all with
her mind. (Continued on page 398)
362
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
'V.'.-:
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wmhr
fit
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T
BY IRMA F. BITNER
^ Discussing the subject of grandmothers on this
{/ft ^ very important "Mother's Day," I find requires a
certain personal approach for, of course, before be-
coming a grandmother, one must be a mother. And
we don't become grandmothers just at a moment's
notice. We serve a period of probation— a training
season— which really begins the moment we are born.
We train for the different roles we are to enact in
MOTHERS AND
GRANDMOTHERS
this drama of life— or comedy of life, as you will. And
the first role we assume is that of baby, which identi-
fies no gender particularly. Then since we are the
female of the species, our next role is as a girl, which
catalogs our sex. Then we are cast as a daughter,
which signifies our relationship; then we personate a
woman, which denotes our age or maturity; next we
step out before the curtain as a wife, which also titles
us daughter-in-law, followed in season by the coura-
geous performance of motherhood, spotlighting our
maternity. And then, through no act of our own, in
due time we are cast as a grandmother— adding the
much-maligned designation of mother-in-law.
Each title connotes a definite status and bestows
an honor on the one endowed. But unlike the char-
acters portrayed on the stage, our roles are not singu-
lar. They are dual— or more than that, quadruple;
for while we are still a daughter, we become a wife—
not relinquishing our role as daughter, and if fortu-
nate, sister as well— break forth into a mother and
finally a grandmother. So you see how multiple our
responsibility becomes— how involved the prerequi-
sites to meet the different assignments. But what a
glorious heritage! All are blessed titles that bespeak
the rich fulfilment of God's plan, and inspire one with
the determination to meet the requirements and ex-
pectations of loved ones.
Yes, it's fun being a grandmother. The great
pleasure of enjoying the ( Continued on page 398 )
363
SPORTSMANSHIP AND
BY CLARENCE ROB1SON
YMMIA GENERAL BOARD
HEAD TRACK COACH, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
In 1960 the Olympic Games were held in Rome, and
from all parts of the world came the greatest athletes
ever assembled to compete for their respective nations.
In the Olympic Games there is a great personal
honor attached to being a medal winner. The top
three men in each event are called to the victory stand
and presented medals. At the end of the stadium
stand three flagpoles representing these first place
winners; and as the victors mount the award stand,
their national flags are hoisted on the flagpoles, and
their national anthems are played by the band. Few
men leave the victory stand without showing tears of
emotion, and justifiably so. Thus, in every man com-
peting at Rome there was a hope for the great honor
of being a medal winner at the 1960 Olympic Games.
In an event called the Hop, Step, and Jump or
the Triple Jump, as it is sometimes referred to, there
was very keen competition for the third place medal.
First, one contestant would take over the third spot,
and then the other would squeeze ahead by a fraction
of an inch. This type of close, keen competition
continued right down to the final jump for both men.
The leader was ahead by less than an inch when each
man had one more attempt. The first of the two men
with all the courage at his command made his final
leap and moved ahead by a fraction of an inch; now
his opponent with one more opportunity to win the
third place medal took his last jump and moved out
in front by one inch.
The loser, heartsick and disappointed, walked over
to his opponent and reached out his hand to con-
gratulate him for his victory, but the winner refused
to shake hands with him. Some of the fans on that
side of the stadium had been watching this event
closely and saw this incident. Immediately they be-
gan to boo and hiss at the victor. Word of what had
happened spread through the fans like fire in dry
grass, and soon almost all of the nearly one hundred
thousand spectators began voicing their protest to this
kind of conduct. The noise became so great that it
364
FAIR PLAY
began to interfere with the other events in progress.
Now, realizing his mistake, the winner went imme-
diately to the fourth place man and not only shook
his hand, but kissed him on both cheeks and tried
desperately to convince those watching that he had
not intended to act in an unsportsmanlike manner;
but the crowd would not stop; and the booing con-
tinued for several minutes. After the jeering had
subsided, the crowd then waited for the awards to be
made in the Triple Jump event; and when the third
place was announced, the noise began again this time
louder and longer than before, and finally an Olympic
official came and led the third place winner from the
stadium. With his third place medal held limply
in his hand, tears streaming down his face, he left the
stadium in disgrace. He had won third place in the
world for his event, yet somehow he was a loser. He
had lost something far greater than he had won.
In an earlier Olympic contest held in Los Angeles
in 1932, in an event called the 5,000 Meter Run, a
similar incident took place. This event is over three
- miles in length, and a great runner from Finland by
the name of Leightner was considered to be a sure
winner. His previous performances had labeled him
as the best in the Olympic competition that year. To
the surprise of nearly everyone, and the great delight
of the American fans, a contestant from the United
States named Hill moved up, and with only a few
laps left, challenged the great Scandinavian champion.
However, as Hill tried to pass, Leightner moved out
in front of his challenger and would not permit him to
pass. Hill made many attempts to get by the leader,
but each time Leightner would force him to the out-
side and would not allow him room to pass. The fans
began shouting in protest at these tactics; and as the
two neared the finish line, Hill made a final effort to
pass Leightner, but the Finnish champion forced him
wide to the outside and eventually at the finish forced
him clear off the running track and then broke the
tape as the victor. The fans were furious and did not
hesitate to express themselves. After the noise died
down everyone awaited the decision of the judges.
Who would be the gold medal winner?
At that time there was no Olympic rule which pro-
hibited the actions of Leightner. He was legally the
winner of the five thousand meters. The judges,
knowing that there would be protests, waited until
the next day to announce their decision on this event.
As the announcement finally came, a hush fell over the
spectators and everyone listened intently, ready to
voice protest if Leightner was declared the winner.
However, the fans remained quiet as Leightner was
called to the top step (Continued on page 406)
365
FAMILY GROUP SHEET
INSPECTION
IN THE WARDS
In January 1964 a new record examining program was
introduced, to be carried out in all wards and branches
of the Church.
There is urgent need for this service. Far too high
a percentage of all the family group sheets submitted
by the public to the Genealogical Society to be
processed for temple work, have to be returned to
the senders because of imperfections, omissions of
vital facts, and inadequate identification. When
scrutinized by the record examiners at the society,
these sheets all too frequently are found to be wanting
in information which the compiler very likely could
have given, had he been aware of the importance
of doing so.
Imagine the long and disappointing delay occa-
sioned when sheets come in from, say, Finland, Aus-
tralia, Canada, or Mexico, and have to be returned for
lack of the name and relationship of the family repre-
sentative, the source of information, the sex of the
children, or the maiden names of the women. A little
expert coaching at the ward or branch level could have
avoided the necessity of returning these sheets because
of clerical deficiencies in the recording of the names,
dates, places, or relationships.
According to the official plan, members of the ward
are to hand the family group sheets they have com-
piled for temple work to the high priests group leader
in their ward. He will have in his possession a printed,
form on which he will record the name of the person
submitting sheets for inspection by the ward record
examiners, and the number of sheets handed in by
that individual. Next he will record the date on which
he passed these sheets to the first record examiner.
The latter is under strict obligation to scrutinize these
sheets within a day or two after receiving them, ac-
cording to the official instruction booklet placed in his
hands.
This family group sheet examiner is to go over the
sheets with great care, noting whether all surnames
on the family group record are recorded first, and in
capital letters, followed by a comma and then the
given names in small or lower case letters, thus
SMITH, Clarence William. All dates should be in the
order of day, month, and year, as 17 Mar. 1884. Places
should be given as town, county, and state or country,
as Ogden, Weber, Utah. The relationship of the family
representative should be given to the husband and to
the wife on each sheet. The source of information
should be given on each sheet in sufficient detail so
that another could go to that source to check the
GENEALOGY
Pertinent
Questions
Answered
QUESTION:
Which is actually more important
for me, to be as active as possible
in genealogical research on my an-
cestral lines, or to attend the temple
regularly and perform ordinances
for my kindred dead?
ANSWER:
In an official letter to stake presi-
dents and stake genealogical chair-
men, under date of 18 February
1958, President Joseph Fielding
Smith, then president of the Gene-
alogical Society, gave this clear
explanation :
"During the last few years empha-
sis has been placed on temple work.
Through the consistent effort of stake
leaders, temple activity throughout
the Church has increased tremen-
dously. Because of this it is now
necessary for us to stress the need for
more accurate research to produce
better records.
"It should be stressed that gene-
alogical research is fust as important
as temple work, and is entitled to
equal credit."
The same truth was emphasized
by President George F. Richards,
formerly president of the Salt Lake
Temple:
"To seek after our dead means to
find them out by genealogical re-
search, to obtain the information
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
accuracy of the information.
If any errors or omissions are detected by the record
examiner, he should make a notation calling attention
to this defect on a separate sheet or slip and attach
this to the family group sheet; but he should make
no note or ivriting on the group sheet itself. Then
this first examiner should place his initials on the
sheet examined in the specified place and return the
sheet to the high priests group leader, ivho is adviser
on genealogy to the bishop. The group leader then
makes a notation on his record sheet of the date he
gives this same sheet to the second family group sheet
examiner. Guided by the same official instructions
this second examiner checks over the sheets carefully,
attaching notations to the sheet when needed. After
he has initialed the sheet, he returns it to the high
priests group leader. This official then returns the
sheet, with any attached notations, to the patron who
submitted the family group record. In doing so he
has an excellent opportunity to point out to the patron
any deficiencies the two examiners have found on
his sheet.
After making the necessary additions or corrections
the patron should send the sheet or sheets to the
Genealogical Society for processing.
All members of the ward should be encouraged to
attend the family class on MIA night, and also the
genealogical training class in Sunday School that they
may be properly trained in the mechanics of making
out properly the family group sheets they submit for
temple work.
It is not actually difficult for the average adult to
master the technique of making out an acceptable
family group record, and in a short time all members
of the ward presenting sheets for processing should
become skilled in doing this. When this goal is at-
tained, then the sheets sent in by the patron from
the ward, after they have been adequately inspected
by the ward family group sheet examiners, should
only in very rare and unusual cases have to be re-
turned for correction from the Genealogical Society.
Thus delays and disappointments ivill be avoided.
Family Group Examining in the Missions
In the missions of the Church the record examining
is done on a district rather than on a branch basis.
There should be at least two record examiners in each
district. The record should be kept on a district level
similar to that kept by the high priests group leader
in the ward, of the number of sheets received, the
dates they are submitted to the first record examiner, to
the second record examiner, and the date they are
returned to the patron.
Ordinarily, in the mission, the sheets will be sent
by the patron himself to the Genealogical Society for
processing. In a few missions the practice is for the
sheets to be sent, not back to the patron, but to the
mission office, to be forwarded to the Genealogical
Society by the mission office. This method of pro-
cedure may be continued if the mission president
so desires.
f«;|^!|;:'.:|
regarding them that will identify
them from all other people bearing
the same name. A perfect identifica-
tion is to have the individual's full
name, also the day, month, and
year of his birth; the town, county,
and state where he was born; the
date of his death; the name of his
father and mother; and, if it is a mar-
ried man, his wife's name; and, if it
is a married woman, her husband's
name. We regard this as complete
identification. ... As you know, this
information must be had concerning
our dead before we can go into the
temple and do the work for them.
It places the principle of genealogical
research, so far as our dead are con-
cerned, on a par in importance with
the temple work which we do for
them. And when the Prophet says,
'The greatest responsibility in this
world that God has placed upon us
is to seek after our dead,' it means
the responsibility of finding them out
by genealogical research and then
going into the temple and receiving
for them those saving ordinances."
(The Improvement Era, May 1942,
Vol. 45, p. 288.)
What we would like to point out
is that neither should be placed
above another. We complete our
genealogical research when we com-
plete the ordinance work in the
temple. To secure the blessings of
temple ordinance work we must first
do genealogical work.
QUESTION:
What is the purpose of the Pedi-
gree Referral Service, now being
introduced?
ANSWER:
It has a twofold purpose:
1. To bring together people who
have common lines of ancestry so
they can co-ordinate and combine
their research efforts.
2. To prevent duplication of re-
search through a central registration
file at the Genealogical Society of all
surname and locality searches that
have been carried out.
QUESTION:
When will this service begin?
ANSWER:
Registrations are being accepted
now on the printed forms prepared
for this purpose.
When sufficient entries have been
registered to make this service effec-
tive, an announcement will be made
that requests for information will be
accepted on official forms which will
be distributed at that time.
MAY 1964
367
A/1
I ^u ■ uch is said about the value of education these
JL. f JLdays. The Latter-day Saints themselves are
great advocates of the individual acquisition of knowl-
edge. Regardless of where members of the Church
have settled, the establishment of schools was of pri-
mary importance. Today, the standard of education
among the Mormons as a people is second to none.
God has always encouraged his people to obtain
knowledge. He has taught them that no man can be
saved in ignorance, (D&C 131:6) and that even his
own glory is his intelligence. (Ibid., 93:36.) In his
admonition to them to study, to read the best books
and to develop themselves (ibid., 88:77-80), the Lord,
no doubt, meant that man should inquire into secular
knowledge as well as into things which pertain to "the
kingdom." (Ibid., 88:77-80.) Consider the explana-
tion of the meaning of D&C 88:79-80 as given by the
writers of the Doctrine and Covenants Commentary.
"But theology is not the only subject the Elders
should be interested in. They should study:
79. "Things both in heaven] Astronomy.
"And in the earth] Everything pertaining to the
cultivation of the soil.
"And under the earth] Mineralogy, geology, etc.
"Things which have been] History, in all its branches.
"Things which are] Current events.
"Things which must shortly come to pass] Prophecies.
"Things which are at home * * * abroad] Domestic
and foreign policies.
"Wars * * * perplexities * * * judgments] The
'signs of the times,' by which the observer may know
that 'the day of the Lord' is at hand.
"A knowledge of countries * * * kingdoms] Physi-
cal and political geography, languages, etc.
"These studies, the Lord considers necessary, 'That
ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you
again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called
you' (v. 80). God does not require all of His servants
to become doctors or professors or even profound
students of these subjects, but He expects them to
know enough of these things to be able to magnify
their calling as His ambassadors to the world.' The
Latter-day Saints have, as George A. Smith remarks
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. VI, p. 84), 'been con-
stantly and continually, upon new ground'; they have
had to shift for themselves, and it is only because the
Elders have tried to live up to this Revelation that
they have been able to find a home in a desert and
make a Paradise in waste places. It is by the light
of this Revelation that the Saints have been able to
reach a place in the world of politics, arts, and sci-
ences, second to none."1
Thus, it is obvious that there is no question as to
the stand of the Church on knowledge and its applica-
tion. As stated above, it is important to have suffi-
cient information about these topics so that one can
adequately represent the Church in whatever calling
or assignment he may receive. The real issue is the
depth to which the individual wishes to go in his
search for secular knowledge.
President William E. Berrett, Administrator of
Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, speaking to
seminary and institute faculties during the summer of
1958, stated the problem in this manner;
"There have been so many charges that men devoted
to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
cannot become scholars in their respective fields of
academic study without having their loyalty to the
Church questioned by others, or without feeling in
themselves that they are compromising their pro-
fessed beliefs, . . ."-
It would seem that those of whom President Berrett
spoke are not conversant with the explanation set
forth in the quotation from the Doctrine and Cove-
nants Commentary. However, as one studies the
complexities involved in this problem of man— his quest
for truth and whether or not there are limitations as to
nSmith, Hyrum M-, and Sjodahl, Janne M., Doctrine and Covenants
Commentary, 1950 edition; University Press, Inc., Cambridge, Massa-
chusetts; p"ge 556.
2Berrett, William E., "Academic Freedom in Church Schools," Brigham
Young University Summer Session, July 1, 1958; page 1.
BY STERLING R. PROVOST
PROFESSOR OF SPEECH AND RELIGION
THE CHURCH COLLEGE OF HAWAII
Fhe Gospel of Jesus Christ and the
teaching
CONDUCTED BY THE CHURCH
UNIFIED SCHOOL SYSTEM
368
the extent of his study— it is evi-
dent that any solution will
require an understanding of
certain factors : ( 1 ) the scope of
the gospel of Jesus Christ, (2)
the nature of academic freedom,
and (3) the real purpose and
value of knowledge.
Elder James E. Talmage,
former member of the Council
of the Twelve, is specific in his
interpretation of the depth of
gospel truth:
". . . Primarily, theology is the
science that deals with God and
religion; it presents the facts of
observed and revealed truth in
orderly array, and indicates the
means of their application in the
duties of life. Theology then
has to do with other facts than
those that are specifically called
spiritual; its domain is that
of truth. . . .
"A complete survey of theol-
ogy, therefore, would embrace
all known truths. God has con-
stituted Himself as the great
teacher; by personal manifesta-
tions or through the ministrations
of His appointed servants, He
instructs His mortal children.
To Adam He introduced the art
of agriculture, and demonstrated
that of tailoring; to Noah and
Nephi He gave instructions in
ship-building; Lehi and Nephi
were taught of Him in the arts
of navigation; and for their
(Continued on page 388)
pursuit of
■ ■:■■ :" ■: : I-:
Jp '
* :-
THE CHURCH IN EARLY CALIFORNIA
BY ALBERT L. ZOBELL, JR.
RESEARCH EDITOR
.
^^^mt^'^M ■■:■:.
fc*W-
1
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints first arrived in organized groups in what
is now California nearly 118 years ago. Some arrived
by ship, traveling around the "Horn" from New York.
Some came by foot, walking all the way from Kansas.
The exodus of the Church to the west began in
February, 1846. On the Iowa plains the "Mormon
Battalion" was recruited from among the pioneers to
help the United States in its struggle with Mexico.
Five companies of these volunteers went to Fort
Leavenworth, then on August 13 started their long
and historic march to the Southwest, arriving at the
San Diego Mission in California on January 29, 1847.
On the same day the exodus began from Nauvoo,
February 4, 1846, Samuel Brannan, leader of the
Church in the New York area, embarked for California
with a company of more than two hundred on the
sailing ship Brooklyn. Their journey took them around
Cape Horn into the Pacific to the Juan Fernandez
Islands off the coast of Chile, then to Honolulu, and
finally into the San Francisco Bay where they landed
July 31, 1846. When they left New York, California
had been Mexican territory, but they found the stars
and stripes flying over "Yerba Buena."
Within a few months the name of Yerba Buena was
changed to San Francisco, and these ship Brooklyn
pioneers were in at the beginning of a bustling
metropolis. In the hold of the Brooklyn they had
carefully brought a printing press; and the California
Star, the second newspaper to be published in Cali-
fornia, made its appearance in January 1847.
On Sunday, April 4, 1847, Samuel Brannan and two
companions left the Bay of San Francisco, traveling
eastward on horseback. They passed over the last
camping grounds of the Donner Party who had met
their tragic end that winter, crossed what is now
Nevada and Utah, and on June 30, after a journey
of more than eight hundred miles, found Brigham
Young camped on the Green River. Brannan brought
news from the Brooklyn Saints who were now
settling in the San Joaquin Valley; of the Battalion
which had reached the Pacific Coast; of the newspaper
California Star (he had brought sixteen numbers with
him ) ; of the richness of California's soil; of its wonder-
ful climate; of the conquest of the country by the
United States; and of the Brooklyn colony's invitation
for President Young and the main body of pioneers
to join them.
President Young insisted that the Saints were going
to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, and a very disap-
pointed Samuel Brannan returned to his "new" home
to lose his identity with the Church. In his Cali-
The old Mormon Council House, first courthouse in San
Bernardino County.
The residence of Samuel Brannan in 18h7. He built this
house in the center of what is now Chinatown in San
Francisco.
Samuel Brannan,
said to have been
California's first
millionaire.
Yerba Buena (San Francisco) as it appeared in 18A6-U7
to the Brooklyn pioneers.
MAY 1964
371
^ ^
JMiftl
An artist' 's conception of Sutter's Fort in 184.6
forma he found opportunities beyond his dreams as
he became one of San Francisco's early leaders and
had much to do with the Vigilante Committee that
brought law and order there. He has often been
called California's first millionaire, but his wealth was
squandered and dissipated over the years. He lost
his identity with the American giants of that golden
age in California, his influence vanished, and he was
to die alone, penniless, and unremembered at Eseon-
dido, in southern California, in 1889.
Members of the Mormon Battalion had become
peacetime soldiers in southern California. They helped
improve housing and other conditions; they built Fort
Moore (now the site is appropriately marked in down-
town Los Angeles) and raised the first American
flag there on a giant flagpole July 4, 1847. Their
enlistment for one year was up, and although they
were requested to re-enlist, the majority of them were
mustered out at Los Angeles July 16, 1847 and went
northward to the San Joaquin Valley and to San
Francisco, then the only known direct route to the
Salt Lake Valley. In the Bay City they swelled the
membership of the Church, and there, Addison Pratt,
returning from a mission to the Society Islands (Ta-
hiti), became president of the San Francisco Branch
of the Church December 2, 1847.
The old John M. Horner church and sclioolhouse built in 1850 in Centerville.
In this old adobe dwelling in Alameda County, Latter-day Saint religious services and socials were held
from late 1847 or early 1848 until 1850.
Some of the men of the Mormon Battalion were
hired as laborers by Captain John Sutter who had vast
holdings in the Sacramento area. Six of these men,
three other white men, and some Indians were work-
ing under the direction of James W. Marshall, Sutter's
foreman, constructing a millrace at Coloma, Cali-
fornia, January 24, 1848, when gold was discovered in
their diggings.
Elder Henry W. Bigler recorded the discovery in
his diary, the diary-entry being accepted by historians
who thus have dated the discovery that led to the
California gold rush and brought thousands of men
to the gold fields.
After fulfilling their working agreements to Captain
Sutter the veterans of the Mormon Battalion did not
seek to find gold deposits on their own, but took their
earnings and turned eastward, journeying to the Salt
Lake Valley where many of them found their families
and the Church.
The Saints of the ship Brooklyn were mostly of farm
stock. They recognized the rich soil and the superb
growing conditions. They found a new leader among
themselves, John Horner, who went with them to
develop new farmlands. His bounteous harvests
were only matched by the prices that gold miners
were willing to pay, {Continued on page 417)
John M. Horner,
often called
California's
"first" farmer.
A page from the journal of Henry W. Bigler, a member
of the Mormon Battalion, which has established the date
of the discovery of gold on the American River.
MAY 1964
373
^,
Recently a young man was notified that he was being
transferred from Utah to Northern California. He
immediately went there to become acquainted with
his new work-day assignment. But he was doing
more. He was quietly making his own survey of
something most precious to him— the Church. He
came back to Utah to wind up his affairs and to help
his family pack, and he was elated. The Northern
California he saw was what he was looking for—
friendly congregations of the Saints, opportunities for
church activity in modern chapels, just as he had
known and loved them where he had been active in
the Church. Yes, he would be perfectly at home there.
The story of the Church in a given area is the same
as in any other area where the members are active
and have their heart in the work. And the members'
hearts and souls are dedicated to the work in North-
ern California.
# » # # *
Beautiful LDS chapels and other church buildings
dot the land there. But when one thinks of these
buildings, one structure immediately comes to mind:
the East Bay Interstake Center that shares the grounds
with the Oakland Temple.
The late President Stephen L Richards of the First
Presidency broke ground for this building on July 20,
1957. He said: "I envision in this unique building
combination a pattern which will be widely emulated
throughout the Church. This will be a great center
of activity for the Church in this area— especially for
the young people— a place where they may come and
find their partners."
Speaking on the same occasion, Elder Mark E.
Petersen of the Council of the Twelve said: "As you
build [here] you are building souls; you are building
character; you are building for eternal happiness
and salvation."
The building, planned by the Oakland-Berkeley,
Hayward, and Walnut Creek stakes, contains an audi-
torium which seats 2,200 plus a hall which can seat
1,000; a two-ward chapel with seating facilities for
330, classrooms, cultural hall for the wards, Junior
The LDS Church is a strong advocate of the scouting pro-
gram. Here are six young men of the Walnut Creek Stake
who received Eagle awards at a recent Court of Honor.
B
President David O. McKay and O. Leslie Stone, President
of the Oakland-Berkeley Stake and the Oakland Temple
District, inspect an early rendering of the new temple.
C
The East Bay Interstake Center, on Temple Hill in Oak-
land, is a mecca for church activities in the Bay area.
D
Playing in the largest basketball league in the world, the
senior team from the Oakland Third Ward shows its
superiority over a team from Hawaii in the tournament in
Salt Lake City.
P
mm.
Top. President Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of
the Twelve speaks at a special gathering in the East Bay
Interstake Center.
Above. President David O. McKay addresses a capacity
audience during dedicatory services of the Interstake
Center September 25, 1960.
376
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Sunday School chapel and classrooms; baptistry,
offices, and miscellaneous rooms which complete the
building complex. A mammoth stage is designed to
be used in conjunction with either the auditorium
or the large hall.
The building was officially opened with a festive
program, Friday, October 16, 1959.
A great pipe organ, costing $50,000, was especially
designed for the auditorium and built in Weikersheim,
Germany. It was played for the first time on Sunday,
September 25, I960, at the services wherein President
David O. McKay dedicated this building.
In less than four years since the dedication, the
East Bay Interstake Center has become the focal
point of the LDS community. Indeed it has become
the cultural center of activity voiced by President
Richards at the groundbreaking.
Later this summer (the dates are yet to be deter-
mined) the Mutual Improvement Associations of five
Bay Area stakes are planning a pageant with a cast
of 600 to 800, both young and old. In music, drama,
and dance the presentation will focus attention of the
youth of the Church and nonmembers on the purpose
of temple building and upon the history of the Church.
It will present parts of the life of the Prophet Joseph
Smith, the Book of Mormon, the growth of the Church
in its infancy, and the temples at Kirtland and Nauvoo;
the westward movement and President Brigham Young
and the building of the inland empire; and finally,
the growth of modern Israel, how the Church meets
:: ■•
Top. Admirers crowd around President McKay between
services at Interstake Center.
Above. Although there were only 50 LDS students among
the 1,£00 who attended the Homestead High School in
Sunnyvale, California, in 1962-63, these three young men
from the Sunnyvale Ward, Palo Alto Stake, held high
positions of leadership. L to R, Kent Reynolds, sophomore
president; Richard Hart, student body vice-president, and
Richard Dillender, student body president.
MAY 1964
377
Part of a group of 53 persons who recently completed a genealogical school in the San Jose Stake.
the needs of man and the challenge of the world,
and the Oakland Temple.
In the athletic programs of the Church, the areas
in Northern California have always participated and
found additional activity and joy by so doing. The
Northern California entrants are looked forward to as
fine contenders in the all-Church tournaments in
Utah. Most recently the Oakland Third Ward, Oak-
land-Berkeley Stake placed third in the junior all-
Church basketball tournament in Salt Lake City.
# # * * e
The Saints in the area to be served by the Oakland
Temple have a variety of projects functioning in the
church welfare program. There are agricultural
projects ranging in size from a few acres to a thousand
acres, the latter being operated by five stakes at
Pleasanton, California. Some of the peaches used by
the church welfare program are produced in Gridley
and processed by a modern church welfare cannery
in Sacramento. Beef and many canning crops are
produced in the welfare projects of this area. The
raisins used in the church-wide program are grown
and dried by the two Fresno stakes.
The Church and all who read of it were thrilled
by the show of brotherhood, administered under the
church welfare program at Yuba City, California,
after a dike gave way on Christmas Eve, 1955, causing
extensive damage by flooding. Many escaped with
but what they wore, and the Yuba City Ward chapel,
which had sustained water damage, became the
headquarters for relief and rehabilitation work after
waters had receded from the building.
378
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
The San Francisco Stake, organized July 10, 1927,
is the oldest California stake of the Church con-
tinuously functioning under its name. There was a
San Bernardino Stake briefly in pioneer times. The
old Los Angeles Stake was organized January 21,
1923, but name changes, realignments, and reorganiza-
tions took place in 1939.
In 1923 the old Los Angeles Stake was one of three
stakes to be organized that year, and was the eighty-
seventh stake then functioning in the Church. Begin-
ning with the old Los Angeles Stake approximately
twenty percent of the stakes of the Church that have
been organized in the forty-year period have been
geographically wholly or partly in California.
» $ * « *
Over the years missionary work has been carried
forward with some of the minority groups in Cali-
fornia. For a time the headquarters of the Chinese
Mission were in San Francisco's Chinatown. Today
San Francisco Stake, in that cosmopolitan city, has a
Polynesian Ward as well as branches of Chinese-
American and Spanish-American brothers and sisters.
There is a Spanish-speaking ward in the Fresno East
Stake. Spanish-American branches are also a part of
San Jose and Sacramento stakes. Work has also been
done with the people of Armenian extraction in the
Fresno area.
$ & $ * #
Across the street from the Oakland Temple at 4945
Lincoln Way, are the new quarters of the Northern
California Mission, having been recently moved from
San Francisco.
Activity in this mission is always good with the
number of baptisms consistent to place the Northern
California Mission among the leading missions of
the Church.
Quoting from a recent report prepared in that
mission:
"One of the greatest challenges facing missionaries
today is that of gaining entrance into the homes of
families so that we can explain the message of the
restored gospel. In the Northern California Mission
we have many excellent tools that we use in this
proselyting effort.
"This year we have another important development
in our mission: the construction and completion of
the Oakland Temple. This is awakening the interest
of many people in the Bay area and throughout our
mission. As we introduce ourselves, people comment
that they have noticed the new edifice that our Church
is constructing on the hill. They ask questions about
the temple, and they want to know about what the
Church, believes.
"In our mission our main emphasis is on teaching
entire families. As we teach, we explain the signifi-
cance and importance of the entire family unit made
possible by the work which is performed within the
temples of the Lord. With this new temple being built
within the confines of our mission, parents realize the
reality and completeness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Already [this was written in March] we receive
calls at the mission home from people desiring to
learn more about the temple and the Church."
* # * # #
The Church in the Oakland Temple District ( or any
area of the Church) is not only chapels of brick and
stone, but also priesthood and Sacrament meetings,
Sunday School and seminary classes, Relief Society
and Primary gatherings, wholesome week-evening
activities of the Mutual Improvement Associations,
early-morning, late-at-night, and all-day Saturday
toiling in the cause of brotherhood on welfare projects.
All these activities, and much more, aid, of course,
but the Church is individual members with goals set
high to obtain their place in the promised eternities.
The Oakland Temple is now completed physically
and is soon to be spiritually dedicated. Worthy mem-
bers of the Church will have a temple in their midst,
a tower and a source of heavenly strength always.
During the time that the Oakland Temple was being
planned President McKay once gave this challenge:
"If everyone were so living today in such a way to
be worthy to participate in temple ordinances, we
would soon have universal peace."
Sunday is a day of worship and church-going for
young people of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, like these from the Sunset Ward, San Fran-
cisco Stake.
MAY 1964
379
THE
OAKLAND
TEMPLE
BY HAROLD W. BURTON
SUPERVISING ARCHITECT,
CHURCH BUILDING COMMITTEE
AND
W. AIRD MACDONALD
The temple as it appears
at sunset from across a lake
in doivntown Oakland.
Forty years ago this summer, in 1924, the late Presi-
dent George Albert Smith, then a member of the
Council of the Twelve was in San Francisco attending
regional -Boy Scout meetings. As the president of the
little Oakland Branch of the California Mission, I
[Aird Macdonald] was invited to meet him at the
Fairmont Hotel, high atop Nob Hill. We sat on the
roof terrace facing the East Bay, discussing affairs
concerning the little church organization across
the bay.
From the Fairmont terrace we had a wonderful
panorama of the great San Francisco Bay, nestling at
our feet. The setting sun seemed to set the whole
eastern shore afire, until the Oakland hills were ablaze
with golden light. As we admired the beauty and
majesty of the scene, President Smith suddenly grew
silent, ceased talking, and for several minutes gazed
intently toward the East Bay hills.
"Brother Macdonald, I can almost see in vision a
white temple of the Lord high upon those hills," he
exclaimed rapturously, "an ensign to all the world
travelers as they sail through the Golden Gate into
this wonderful harbor." Then he studied the vista
for a few moments as if to make sure of the scene
before him. "Yes, sir, a great white temple of the
Lord," he confided with calm assurance, "will grace
those hills, a glorious ensign to the nations, to welcome
our Father's children as they visit this great city."
A few years later, President David O. McKay, then
one of the Twelve, visited Oakland at one of our first
stake conferences, and asked to see the place where
Brother Smith had envisioned a temple. I accom-
panied him to the hill, a point high above the Di-
mond district off Mountain Boulevard, the present
site of the Oakland Temple. Following President
McKay's visit, negotiations for the purchase of the
property continued for several years, until the Church
finally acquired the hill where Brother Smith saw the
vision of a temple that summer evening in 1924.
The vision of a "White Temple" on the East Bay
hills persisted and became the dream of the local
church colony. After the visit of President McKay,
efforts to buy the site continued over a period of
fourteen years. But many circumstances developed
to block the ownership of the hilltop by the Church.
One private owner refused to sell his essential parcel.
It was not until after his death that a settlement
among his heirs finally made the property available.
Once the site was pre-empted by the school board for
an elementary school building. When plans changed,
the property fell into the hands of a real estate hous-
ing promoter, whose plans were approved by city,
3SO
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
county, and state officials, but because of the Korean
War he was not able to proceed with the project.
President David O. McKay related the following
at the groundbreaking for the temple on May 28, 1962:
"I am reminded that it was in 1934 when a com-
mittee was appointed to choose the site of the Oak-
land Temple. I wish to commend those men. The
chairman of that committee was Eugene Hilton, . . .
[with] Delbert F. Wright, . . . and A. B. Graham, a
real estate man, who has gone to his reward. Those
three men looked around this area for a suitable temple
site, and they finally chose one which was most suit-
able, but it was not for sale. It was this site.
"The war came on, but the labors of these men con-
tinued. One day, Brother Graham received word that
the site they had chosen seven years before was for
sale. The owner had been unable to consummate a
deal which he had anticipated and now had the fifteen
acres for sale. Brother Hilton said, 'This is most im-
portant. It is an answer to our prayers. We shall not
wait for the mails. I shall go to Salt Lake tonight.'
"I commend the faith, the energy, and wisdom of
the members of this committee who chose the site
which today we are dedicating, and on which we
shall break first ground.
"It was two months later when President Heber J.
Grant sent a member of the First Presidency [President
McKay] to look at the site, and he reported to Presi-
dent Grant and the Brethren that it was ideal. From
that time on, this site has been called 'Temple Hill.'
"On November 16, 1942, a letter signed by President
Heber J. Grant and President David O. McKay, coun-
selor, was sent to Brother A. B. Graham stating, 'We
have concluded to purchase the fifteen acres suggested
in President Hilton's letter of September 15, 1942,
and inspected by yourself, President McKay, Presi-
dent Hilton, and others, on Tuesday, November 3,
1934.' etc. With that letter was enclosed a check for
$100.00 for assurance of good faith, and later (Janu-
ary 28, 1943), the balance was sent down, and this
site was purchased for a little over $18,000.00." Other
parcels of land were later added to the original pur-
chase to enlarge the site.
On Monday, January 23, 1961, President David O.
McKay flew to San Francisco to a prearranged meet-
ing at the Hilton Hotel near the San Francisco airport.
Stake presidencies in the area from Fresno on the
south to Klamath on the north and Reno on the east
were present. At that time there were nineteen stakes
in the area. Now, three years later there are twenty-five.
President McKay announced that the First Presi-
dency and the Council of the Twelve had approved
a temple for Oakland. Construction was started as
soon as the plans were ready.
Harold W. Burton, supervising architect of the
Church building committee, had been appointed
architect for the temple, the fifteenth to be erected
by the Church in this dispensation. This is the third
temple that Brother Burton has designed. He was but
twenty-five years of age and the junior partner of the
firm of Pope and Burton when their design for a
temple to be built in Canada was selected from among
eight sets of plans in "anonymous competition." Later
he was assigned to prepare plans for the temple
in Hawaii.
The stake presidencies were overjoyed with this
announcement and pledged to President McKay that
they would raise not less than five hundred thousand
dollars toward the construction of the temple.
One stake president recalls making a mental calcu-
lation that the pledge would mean more than five dol-
lars per capita for the 92,000 church members of
the area.
Then all too quickly the meeting was at an end
and the stake presidencies stood in line to say good-
bye to the President. Each in his turn took the then
87-year-old Church leader by the hand saying some-
thing like, "We'll have the money, President McKay."
And he smiled and replied, "I know you will," in such
MAY 1964
381
a way that they knew, too, that it was almost even
then a reality.
At that meeting a temple committee was named
with President O. Leslie Stone of the Oakland-Berke-
ley Stake as chairman, President David B. Haight of
the Palo Alto Stake, vice chairman, Presidents Dallas
A. Tueller of the Fresno Stake and Carroll William
Smith of Klamath (Oregon) Stake as members. Paul
E. Warnick of the Oakland-Berkeley Stake high
council was named executive secretary of the com-
mittee, and Sister Nell Smith was appointed pub-
licity chairman.
President McKay was to return to Salt Lake City
that evening. He recalled how he used to travel to
church appointments in a horse and buggy, and how,
when he first had gone to California as a member of
the Council of the Twelve, there were but small
branches there.
Upon leaving the meeting some of the stake presi-
dents drove past the temple site. Actually, the work
had already commenced. The site had been leveled
in 1955, when 240,000 yards of rock and shale were
The head of Christ, part of
the sculptured panel on the south facade
of the temple which depicts the
appearance of the Savior
to the Nephites.
moved for fill, a major portion by the city of Oakland.
The East Bay Inter-Stake Center had been erected on
the property in 1957-1959.
Subsequently, when President Carroll Smith was
called to preside over the Western Canadian Mission,
President James Price Ronnow of Reno Stake joined
the temple committee. Today another member of
that committee, President David B. Haight, serves as
president of the Scottish Mission.
Looking back on it now, the committee reports that
there was no difficulty in raising the funds. Children's
pennies and widows' mites joined the sizeable con-
tributions of the more prosperous members. Every-
one was willing and anxious to do his share and more.
One nonmember in the city of Oakland made a volun-
tary unsolicited contribution of $3,500. On February
24, 1964, President Stone reported to The Improve-
ment Era: "As of this date over $600,000 has been
contributed. . . ." It was indeed gratifying to see how
the people responded with their contributions.
President McKay returned to Oakland, Saturday,
May 26, 1962, where he officially broke ground for
the structure. All members of the First Presidency
and many of the General Authorities were present.
Approximately seven thousand were in attendance at
this service. Construction on the building started the
following Monday morning.
President Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of
the Twelve laid the cornerstone on Saturday, May 25,
1963. Here the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir (then on
a concert tour in California) sang at the services,
which were attended by an estimated seven thousand.
The Oakland Temple differs from the older type
of temple in that there will be but two ordinance
rooms. The ceremonies that are performed in four
rooms in other temples are consolidated into each of
these two rooms. The ceremonies in these two
ordinance rooms will be alternated at one hour and
fifteen minute intervals. The celestial room will be
common to both ordinance rooms, which will make
it possible for one group of temple workers to officiate
in both rooms.
The celestial room in the Oakland Temple, located
directly under the central tower and spire, is thirty-
eight feet square. The room has a thirty-five foot
high ceiling. The walls are covered in giallo sienna,
a beautiful golden-toned marble imported from Italy.
The wall panels are of light-colored South American
wood, known as Prima Vera. This Prima Vera wood
has a golden glaze which harmonizes perfectly with
the beautiful Italian marble. The floor will be car-
peted with a deep pile velvet carpet in a golden hue
that harmonizes with the marble and wood paneling.
Beneath the celestial room is the baptistry in the
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
i
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THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SMNTS
THE OAKLAND TEMPLE
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This sculptured panel
on the north side of the temple
represents in heroic-size
figures the Savior teaching his
followers in Palestine.
exact center of the building, in the lowest part of the
temple. The floor of the baptistry is marble, the
sixteen supporting columns that carry the weight of
the central tower and spire is covered with a travertine
marble which is quarried in Utah. It is crystalline
formation with onyx and other crystals, which gives it
a rich bronze-like effect.
The front itself is supported on the backs of twelve
life-sized oxen covered with pure gold leaf. The
oxen have the appearance of emerging from reeded
foliage, which will be polychromed in natural foliage
colors. The oxen are typical of those used by the early
Mormon pioneers in crossing the plains.
There are ten sealing rooms in the building, two of
which have a seating capacity of sixty, four with a
seating of twenty-two each, and four seating sixteen
each. The sealing rooms will be carpeted wall to wall.
All four walls are paneled with silk-covered panels
and mirrors. These mirrors give the symbolic effect
of eternity because of the repeated reflections on all
sides of the rooms,
The ground floor of the temple is devoted to the
initiatory ceremonies. The west wing contains the
Bureau of Information and a reception room for
temple patrons. The temple chapel and the other
administrative offices are in the east wing.
The exterior of the building from the base to the top
of the central tower is faced with sierra white granite,
which is quarried at Raymond, California, approxi-
mately 175 miles from the temple site.
The temple proper sits on the stylobate 210 feet
from east to west and 190 feet from north to south.
It faces two and one-half degrees west off true
north. The central tower rises 170 feet from ground
level to the tip of the finial or spire. There are four
lesser spires directly over the four corner towers.
These spires reach heavenward ninety-six feet. The
towers are perforated and are covered in a blue glass
mosaic and gold leaf. They present a very striking
effect in the sun light and at night will be illuminated
from the interior of the spires, transmitting rays of
lacy light which stream through the perforations. The
temple will present a stirring sight, especially at night,
for viewers from miles away.
A feature of the exterior of the temple is two
sculptured panels, thirty-five feet wide and thirteen
feet one inch high. The sculptured figures in these
panels, one on the north facade and one on the south
facade, are heroic in size. (Continued on page 386)
MAY 1964
383
19
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The beauty and majesty of the Oakland Temple
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MAY 1964
385
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The Oakland Temple
( Continued from page 383 )
The panel on the approach, or north
side of the building, depicts Jesus of
Nazareth in Palestine; the one on
the south facade shows Jesus ap-
pearing to the Nephites in the Land
Bountiful. These panels grow out of
the face of the building and are
executed in the same granite as the
rest of the building, and thereby
have the appearance of being an
integral part of the temple.
From the stylobate projecting
northward are two wings, thirty feet
by 149 feet, enclosing a fore-court
80 feet wide and 116 feet long.
There will be a reflecting pool in
the center of the fore-court thirty-six
feet wide and ninety-seven feet long.
This will be fed by a waterfall com-
ing from the top of the stylobate
down the face of the building into
a catch basin, overflowing into the
reflecting pool. The stylobate will
be beautifully landscaped with exotic
plantings. From this point, the
visitor will get a breath-taking pano-
ramic view of the entire bay area.
The fore-court will be landscaped
with a variety of citrus trees typical
of California.
The temple has been erected by
the Leon M. Wheatley Co., Inc.,
and the Jacobsen Construction Co.,
Inc., as a joint venture. Superin-
tendent of construction has been
Robert C. Loden.
Arthur Price has been resident
architect supervisor during the con-
struction of the temple. He acted in
a similar capacity during the build-
ing of the Arizona Temple nearly
forty years ago.
The First Presidency on January
4, 1964 announced the appointment
of Elder Delbert F. Wright as presi-
dent of the Oakland Temple, with
Sister Wright as temple matron. A
member of the Priesthood Home
Teaching Committee at the time of
this appointment, Elder Wright is a
former president of both the Oak-
land and the Minnesota stakes. He
was a member of the committee
which selected the site for the
temple.
Construction is scheduled to be
completed sometime this summer.
The pioneers were forty years in
the building of the Salt Lake Tem-
ple. Is it a happenstance that
forty years after President George
Albert Smith envisioned a temple in
Oakland one stands on the very hill-
top he saw in blazing light on that
summer evening so long ago? "And
in that day men shall see visions,"
said the Prophet Micah in ancient
Israel. In 1924, no one by human
wisdom could have guessed that one
day a temple would be erected in
the bay area. At that time only a
few small branches struggled to keep
the Church alive in all of California.
But this became the dawning of a
new period in the growth of the
Church on the Pacific coast.
The make-up of the Oakland
Temple District has yet to be an-
nounced, however, the following
stakes have been suggested: Ameri-
can River, Concord, Fresno, Fresno
East, Gridley, Hayward, Klamath,
Monterey Bay, Napa, North Sacra-
mento, Oakland-Berkeley, Palo Alto,
Redding, Redwood, Reno, Reno
North, Sacramento, San Francisco,
San Joaquin, San Jose, San Jose
West, San Leandro, San Mateo,
Santa Rosa, and Walnut Creek. Cor-
vallis, Salem, and Willamette have
also been suggested for the district.
Other stakes are being considered.
The church membership of the
twenty-eight named stakes is quoted
as 124,290.
To the Saints of the Northern
California Mission the Oakland Tem-
ple will be "their" temple, as well,
although it has been the policy of
the Church never officially to as-
sign a mission field to a temple
district. Members who meet the
requirements for temple entry are
welcome in these holy edifices no
matter where they reside.
BE GLEANERS
BY ROXANA FARNSWORTH HASE
Glean, oh, you women of today,
And bind the golden sheaves;
Let virtue be your hearts of grain
And charity your leaves;
Bind with the cord of faithfulness,
Weave in some high ideals,
Let wisdom be your watchword,
Love and peace your daily yields.
Glean, oh, you women of today,
Glean as did Ruth of old,
Yet not for material substance,
But for golden truths to hold.
386
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
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Teaching
( Continued from page 369 )
guidance on the water, as in their
journeyings on land, he prepared
for them the Liahona, a compass
operated by an influence more effec-
tive for its purposes than that of
terrestrial magnetism; furthermore,
Moses received divine instructions
in architecture."3
President Joseph F. Smith clarified
the extensiveness of the gospel in
this manner:
"In the theological sense, the gos-
pel means more than just the tidings
of good news, with accompanying
joy to the souls of men, for it em-
braces every principle of eternal
truth. There is no fundamental
principle, or truth, anywhere in the
universe, that is not embraced in the
gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is not
confined to the simple first princi-
ples, such as faith in God, repent-
ance from sin, baptism for the
remission of sins, and the laying on
of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost, although these are absolutely
essential to salvation and exaltation
in the kingdom of God.
"The laws known to man as the
'laws of nature,' through which the
earth and all things on it are gov-
erned, as well as the laws which
prevail throughout the entire uni-
verse, through which heavenly bodies
are controlled and to which they are
obedient in all things, are all cir-
cumscribed and included in the
gospel. Every natural law or scien-
tific principle that man has truly
discovered, but which was always
known to God, is a part of the gos-
pel truth."4
In essence, then, the gospel is
limitless in its extent and scope.
Furthermore, the gospel is for both
the spiritual and temporal benefit of
man. However, to learn all that
there is to be learned will obviously
require more than the time allotted
during mortal life.
Dr. John A. Widtsoe, who was a
learned scholar and a member of
the Council of the Twelve, believed
that gaining liberal knowledge did
3Talmage, James E., Articles of Faith, 1952
edition; Salt Lake City, Utah; page 5.
4Smith, Joseph F., Gospel Doctrine, 1949 edi-
tion; Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City,
Utah; pp. 85-86.
not diminish faith, for had education
been found to destroy faith, God's
support would not have been so
freely given.3
In an address to the seminary and
institute of religion faculties during
the summer convention of 1953,
Elder Harold B. Lee charged them
to:
". . . so teach the gospel that
students will not be misled by pur-
veyors of false doctrines, vain specu-
lations of faulty interpretations. . . .
Yours is to teach the old truths,
the simple truths, the foundation
teachings of the gospel of Jesus
Christ, and not be concerned about
new speculations that are startling
and intriguing, whether true or not."6
In the realm of science the method
of formulating a hypothesis and then
testing it is desirable because it not
infrequently results in new dis-
coveries. In the area of gospel
TO MY MOTHER
BY HELEN FLETCHER COLLINS
Age can be beautiful
Like the year in the fall,
And, remembering you, I shall
Not mind growing older at all.
I shall recall the grace
Of apple-laden boughs,
Fulfilling with ruddy fruit
Young springtime's radiant vows.
scholarship, however, such proce-
dures are not adequate. The Lord
informed Joseph Smith that there
are powers beyond this world which
quicken the understanding, if one
will but listen to the Spirit. He said:
"And the light which shineth,
which giveth you light, is through
him who enlighteneth your eyes,
which is the same light that quick-
eneth your understandings;
"Which light proceedeth forth
from the presence of God to fill the
immensity of space—
"The light which is in all things,
which giveth life to all things, which
is the law by which all things are
5Widtsoe, John A.
tions, Vol. I, 1943;
Utah; pp. 31-35.
°Lee, Harold B.,
Evidences and Reconcilia-
Bookcraft, Salt Lake City,
"The Mission of Church
Schools," Brigham Young University Summer
Session, August 21, 1953; pp. 5, 7.
388
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
governed, even the power of God
who sitteth upon his throne, who is
in the bosom of eternity, who is in
the midst of all things." (D&C
88:11-13.)
In the same revelation the Savior
continued: "And if your eye be single
to my glory, your whole bodies shall
be filled with light, and there shall
be no darkness in you; and that body
which is filled with light compre-
hendeth all things." (Ibid, 88:67.)
Academic freedom enables the
student to pursue his secular field,
knowing that all the truth he dis-
covers is accepted by the true
Church of Jesus Christ.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
declared:
"There never was a time, I sup-
pose, in the history of the world
when so much knowledge was in the
possession of men. Surely knowl-
edge has been increased, but at the
same time, the doctrine taught in
this prophetic saying by Paul is true:
men are ever learning, but appar-
ently never able to come to a
knowledge of the truth." ( 2 Timothy
3:7). . . .
"The Prophet did say that a man
cannot be saved in ignorance, but in
ignorance of what? He said that a
man could not be saved in ignorance
of the saving principles of the gospel
of Jesus Christ. (Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 297, 301,
324, 331, 332.)
"Not many of the great and mighty,
those who form and control the
thoughts of the people of today, are
going to find salvation in the king-
dom of God. Why? Because they
have not found the way; they are not
walking in the light of truth. They
may have knowledge, but they lack
intelligence. . . .
"Now I understand that knowledge
is very important, but there is a great
fund of knowledge in the possession
of men that will not save them in
the kingdom of God. What they
have got to learn are the funda-
mental things of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. They have got to. learn to
have faith in God. They must learn
to obey him. They have got to
learn his commandments, his ordi-
nances, and keep them, and unless
they do, all their learning and all
their knowledge will be of little
benefit to them. . . .
"So with all our boasting, with all
our understanding, with all the
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MAY 1964
389
miv0
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NAME
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J
knowledge that we possess— and let
me say that this great knowledge
that has been poured out upon men,
and all that is truth, has come from
God— but with it all, unless we
humble ourselves, and put ourselves
in harmony with his gospel truth,
and seek for the light which comes
through the Spirit of truth, which is
Jesus Christ, we will never gain a
fulness of knowledge."7
As indicated here, all of the knowl-
edge man possesses comes from
God; it is where man places the
emphasis or importance that is sig-
nificant. A man must not sacrifice
intelligence (the light of truth), for
worldly or secular knowledge. Those
who gain exaltation must know all
things, such knowledge will not be
given unless man acquires those
principles that lead to the kingdom
of God.8
The question now arises: How
does one measure the worth of his
education? President McKay gives
this answer:
"A man may possess a profound
knowledge of history and of mathe-
matics; he may be an authority in
physiology, biology, or astronomy.
He may know all about whatever
has been discovered pertaining to
general and natural science, but if
he has not, with this knowledge, that
nobility of soul which prompts him
to deal justly with his fellow men,
to practice virtue and honesty in per-
sonal life, he is not a truly edu-
cated man.
"Character is the aim of true edu-
cation; and science, history, and
literature are but means used to
accomplish this desired end. . . .
True education seeks to make men
and women not only good mathema-
ticians, proficient linguists, profound
scientists, or brilliant literary lights,
but also, honest men. ... It seeks to
make men and women who prize
truth, justice, wisdom, benevolence,
and self-control as the choicest
acquisitions of a successful life. . . .
"What, then, is true education? It
is awakening a love for truth, a just
sense of duty, opening the eyes of
the soul to the great purpose and end
of life. It is not teaching the indi-
vidual to love the good for personal
sake; it is to teach him to love the
good for the sake of the good itself;
to be virtuous in action because he is
7Smith, Joseph Fielding, Doctrines of Salvation,
Vol. I, 1954; Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah; pp.
290-291.
sIbid„ pp. 291-292.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
V
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YOU
Membership is not limited to B.Y.U. students or
former students, if you ore 17 to 70 years of
age and are willing to adhere to the stand-
ards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, you are eligible to apply for
membership.
H'Xi £: '-'2,, .r"-"!"k:: 31
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NOW
Tours begin in June. Send for infor-
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the wprld in '64. Tours ore carefully
planned for adults ... and students.
V
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W?WWM$$
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Get ahead of yourself . . . be a Y's traveler . . . THIS
YEAR TAKE A B.Y.U. TRAVEL STUDY TOUR
i
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Go to the land of your Heritage. Visit
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This is the era of travel, learn as you go.
Tours are directed by Brigham Yoyng Uni-
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travel.
5.
Choose from Thirteen Tours
Visiting Forty Countries
1. Peoples and Arts Tour of Europe (June
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2. European Highlights Tour (June 13-July
15). Features New York World's Fair and
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3. Student European Tour (June 12-Aug. 13).
Features New York World's Fair and 12
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4. European Ancestral Heritage Tour (July
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Bible and Book of Mormon Lands Tour
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World's Fair and 12 countries.
Church History — Pageant Tour (July 24-
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Hawaiian Socio-Cultural Tour (July 8-
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'Round the World Tour (June 12-Aug. 12).
Features New York World's Fair and 25
countries.
Pacific Circle Tour (Oct. 1-Nov. 15). In-
cludes the World Olympic Games in
Tokyo, and 14 countries.
Spanish Study Program in Mexico (June
16- Aug, 7). Six weeks' residence in Mex-
ico City.
French Study Program in France. Features
New York World's Fair, 8 countries and
residence in Paris.
American Colonial History Tour (July 25-
Aug. 15). Features New York World's
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History sites.
Early American Homes Tour (June 15-
July 19). Features New York World's Fair
and great homes in 12 states.
10
12
13
::: :
J!!|§i!;L MB
Tin^1-
On a Brigham Young University Travel
Study Tour. For detailed information indi-
cate tours of interest to you, clip, and
mail.
, ■■- m § : mmi
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For detailed information indicate tours >
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so in heart; to love and serve God
supremely, not from fear, but from
delight in His perfect character."9
In other words, the gaining of
knowledge is one thing; the applica-
tion of it is another!
Conclusion
The points of this article may be
summarized as follows:
1. In all ages God has encouraged
learning among his people, both for
their spiritual and temporal well-
being.
2. The purpose for acquiring this
knowledge is twofold: (1) individ-
ual exaltation and (2) to promote
the kingdom of God on earth.
3. The gospel of Jesus Christ en-
compasses all truth regardless of
its source.
4. Academic freedom, although
most difficult to define, has certain
constant factors—
a. Worldly knowledge increasing-
ly contributes to the under-
standing and the dissemination
of the gospel message.
b. Each individual is free to pur-
sue his chosen academic field
in his quest for truth.
c. Gospel discussion should be
centered around revealed truth,
not speculation or individual
interpretation.
d. All study will be more profit-
able if pursued with an honest
seeking of divine guidance.
5. Man is under the necessity of
learning, not only because it is a
fundamental and divine admonition,
but because his eventual glory is
dependent upon his acquisition of
all knowledge.
6. Knowledge itself is ineffective.
The wise application of knowledge
is the hallmark of an educated man.
Jesus, the Christ, nearly two
thousand years ago, said: "And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free." (John 8:32.)
Be he a scholarly academician or a
young child entering school for the
first time, this promise is universally
given to anyone who is willing to
pay the price— that of utilizing all of
his knowledge for the building of
the kingdom of God.
«McKay, David O., "True Education," The
Instructor, August, 1961, pp. 253-254.
392
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
NEW AMERICAN TEMPERANCE PLAN
PAYS $100 WEEKLY.
even for life to Non-drinkers and Non-smokers!
At last — a new kind of hospitalization plan for you thousands who realize drinking and
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no waiting period. Only you can cancel your policy. No salesman will ever call. Starting
the first day you enter any hospital, you will be paid $14.28 a day.
You do not smoke or drink-
so why pay premiums for
those who do?
Every day in your newspaper you see
more evidence that drinking and smoking
shorten life. They're now one of America's
leading health problems — a prime cause
of the high premium rates most hospitali-
zation policies charge.
Our rates are based on your
superior health,
as a non-drinker and non-smoker. The
new American Temperance Hospitaliza-
tion Plan can offer you unbelievably low
rates because we do not accept drinkers
and smokers, who cause high rates. Also,
your premiums can never be raised be-
cause you grow older or have too many
claims. Only a general rate adjustment
up or down could affect your low rates.
And only you can cancel your policy. We
cannot.
READ YOUR AMERICAN
TEMPERANCE PLAN BENEFITS
1. You receive $100 cash weekly —
TAX FREE- even for life,
from the first day you enter a hospital.
Good in any hospital in the world. We pay
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carry. We send you our payments Air
Mail Special Delivery so you have cash
on hand fast. No limit on number of times
you collect.
2. We cover all accidents and
sicknesses,
except pregnancy, any act of war or mili-
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you're fully protected — at amazingly low
rates!
3. Other benefits for loss
within 90 days of accident
(as described in policy). We pay $2000
cash for accidental death. Or $2000 cash
for loss of one hand, one foot, or sight of
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MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Read over your policy carefully. Ask your min-
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it provides exactly what we say it does. Then,
if for any reason at all you are not 100% satis-
fied, just mail your policy back to us within 30
days and we will immediately refund your en-
tire premium. No questions asked. You can
gain thousands of dollars .. .you risk nothing.
IMPORTANT: Check table below and include your first
premium with application.
LOOK AT THESE
AMERICAN TEMPERANCE LOW RATES
Pay Monthly Pay Yearly
Each child 18
and under pays
$2«°
$28
Each adult
19-64 pays
$380
$38
Each adult
65-100 pays
$590
$59
SAVE TWO MONTHS PREMIUM RY PAYING YEARLYI
TEAR OUT AND_ MAIL^ ^?^Y_ BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
Application to Pioneer Life Insurance Company, Rockford, Illinois
FOR AT-300
AMERICAN TEMPERANCE HOSPITALIZATION POLICY
Name (PLEASE PRINT)
Street or RD #
City .
Age_ Date of Birth
Occupation _
Beneficiary
.Zone.
.County.
-State_
Month
.Height
Day
Year
_Weight
.Relationship.
I also apply for coverage for the members of my family listed below:
NAME
AGE
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
BENEFICIARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
MAY 1964
To the best of your knowledge and belief, are you and all members listed above in good health
and free from any physical impairment, or disease? Yes □ No Q
To the best of your knowledge, have you or any member above listed had medical advice or
treatment, or have you or they been advised to have a surgical operation in the last five years?
Yes □ No □ If so, please give details stating person affected, cause, date, name and address
of attending physician, and whether fully recovered.
Neither I nor any person listed above uses tobacco or alcoholic beverages, and I hereby apply
for a policy based on the understanding that the policy does not cover conditions originating
prior to its effective date, and that the policy is issued solely and entirely in reliance upon the
written answers to the above questions.
Date- Signed :X , _^^_____
AT-IAT
Mail this application with your first premium to 871
AMERICAN TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATES, Inc., Box 131, Libertyville, Illinois
393
Their Flag Flew
on Iwo ]ima
Follow their
tradition by flying
your flag on ever)
national, state and
local holiday.
Always be
a good
American
alt £nkt Uiibnm
One of America's Great Newspapers
Is your church any place to skimp
on carpet quality?
'No!" say the architects who specify for
so many of the stately new Mormon
church buildings. Good carpet, they
point out, absorbs sound, saves on main-
tenance costs. And, of course, improves
appearance.
Not surprisingly, Bigelow Gropoint
(above] gets the nod.
Long-wearing Gropoint's all-wool loop
pile softens noise to a hushed quiet.
394
And Gropoint's 19 colors make it adapt-
able to any decor.
But Gropoint is just one of many
Bigelows whose quality befits Mormon
church buildings. There are others, in-
cluding styles for every public building,
every home. Bigelow has 01 can custom-
create the perfect carpet. We've done
it since 1825.
Bigelow^
RUGS S CARPETS SINCE 1825
THE POWER WITHIN
BY ROBERT G. HARDING
I stood upon a seashore
My face bared to the storm.
The waves— angry, relentless, per-
sistent-
Wave after wave,
Tearing at cliff, and shore, and
headland, pounding blow after
blow.
I marveled at the force which lay
within;
Fear of such power clutched my
soul—
The mighty waves!
I stood upon a lake shore
My face bared to bitter wind.
The waves— wild, blusterous, deter-
mined-
Wave after wave,
Long, breaking swells lapped the
shore, and feathered out on pleas-
ant sands.
I marveled at benign calmness due
to follow;
No longer did fear of waves fill my
soul—
The puny waves!
But winds were both the same-
Boisterous, erratic, powerful.
It was the winds that held the power
To stir up waves, to wreck, to create
the force of hurricanes,
Or the power to pour out rain or to
breathe upon a multi-purpose
world.
I marvel at this power and what be-
hind it lies-
God's world— the world we have
learned to love—
The power within!
THE LOFTY AND LONELY
BY WINIFRED HEISKELL LAYTON
Who walks by night on a lonely hill,
dark and desolate, winter-bare,
will find ancient wisdom almost fill
his heart with solace, banish care.
He finds that beauty doesn't perish,
flourishes instead above the crowd
where the way is lonely but nourishes
the man who walks hand in hand
with a cloud.
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
r s
It would take a herd of nearly 900 cows to
supply milk to the families of Kennecott's 6700
Utah Copper Division employees. Every day
Utah's copper family buys about 13,200 quarts
of milk. This is just one example of the enormous
purchasing power represented by the Kennecott
payroll.
Other examples of how employees spend
their daily earnings of approximately $124,000
include average daily expenditures of $25,000 for
food products, $21,700 for housing, $11,700 for
clothing and $3,200 for health care. From the full
range of their buying, virtually every segment of
Utah's economy feels the impact of copper.
However, Kennecott's annual payroll of
nearly $45 million is just part of the story. Add
$30 million in local purchases by the company,
and state and local tax payments totaling $12.5
million, and the grand total soars to $87.5 million!
Every operating day at Kennecott is the
starting point of dollars that circulate from one
end of the state to the other. Directly and in-
directly just about every Utahn is in the path of
these dollars.
Kennecott (Hopper Corporation ~r vtah coPPer Division
Students Obroad
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Church Moves On
(Continued from page 340)
He succeeds Elder L. Leon Jennings
as first counselor. Elder Lester Gub-
ler sustained as second counselor.
The First Presidency announced
the appointment of Elder How-
ard S. McDonald as president of the
Salt Lake Temple succeeding Presi-
dent Willard R. Smith. President
McDonald is a former president of
Brigham Young University and
president of Los Angeles City Col-
lege and Los Angeles State College,
including San Fernando State Col-
lege. At the time of this temple
appointment he was regional repre-
sentative for the United States
Commissioner of Education, in the
Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare, with headquarters at
San Francisco.
APRIL 1964
The annual conference of the
Primary Association opened this
morning in the Salt Lake Taber-
nacle. Featured in today's sessions
were addresses by Elder Howard W.
Hunter of the Council of the Twelve;
Elder William J. Critchlow, Jr.,
Assistant to the Twelve; Elder Rob-
ert L. Simpson of the Presiding
Bishopric; and a 105-piece Primary
children's orchestra from the Parley's
(Salt Lake City) Stake.
President N. Eldon Tanner of
the First Presidency and Elder
Harold B. Lee of the Council of the
Twelve were among the speakers
today at Primary Conference. Music
included a chorus of teachers from
the Ogden area and a chorus of chil-
dren, 500 strong, from the Salt Lake
City area. A dramatic presentation
"Teach Thy Children of the Lord"
was given. Today's meetings con-
cluded the association's conference.
Some returned missionaries and
other groups held their reunions
this evening.
With President David O. Mc-
Kay presiding and conducting
the one hundred thirty-fourth annual
conference of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints opened
in the Tabernacle this morning.
President McKay was presiding at
the afternoon session with President
Brown conducting.
396
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
VISIT THE
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Choice of routes and free stopovers permit visiting many of America's
historic shrines, interesting cities and other scenic attractions. There
is no finer way for youngsters and adults to learn about the heritage
that made our country great.
You will be delighted, too, how economical the trip can be with
money-saving family fares traveling coach or Pullman, leaving
Monday through Thursday, returning any day.
Add new dimensions to your vacation by going Domeliner.
Contact nearest Union Pacific ticket office for information and reservations
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
Mothers and Grandmothers
( Continued from page 363 )
children without the daily responsi-
bility is wonderful. It is a case of
having your cake and eating it too.
Right here I would like to pay
tribute to my own beloved mother,
who for many years was a grand-
mother and great-grandmother.
When she reached her ninety-fourth
milestone, her mind was clear and
sparkling. Although frail in body,
she was strong in her testimony
which increased with her years. Un-
falteringly she looked forward to the
time when she would be called
"home." Through life she played
her different roles with precision
and care, and when she took her
final curtain, her audience knew
she had found that joy of a per-
fect performance.
I should like to pause long enough
to mention the cavalcade of unwed
women and motherless wives, who
stand by on this day with a shadow
in their eyes and a lonely pain in
their hearts. May they find compensa-
tion in that pattern of daily living.
Mothers, it takes sacrifice and
courage, self-denial and understand-
ing to do the things you are doing,
but more than that it takes loving
and praying— lots and lots of it. It
is not an easy assignment, but it pays
dividends, and oh, what dividends.
There is nothing more deserving and
commendable in the world. It is
worth your best efforts. Work at it.
Make it your major. Study it and
find the answers.
Recently I had the pleasure of
listening to an exceptionally talented
piano duo, Shaw and Druke, per-
form a concerto with flawless tech-
nique and interpretation. And while
they were playing, I was impressed
with the marvelous co-ordination
that was required to produce such a
masterful exhibition, the hours of
practice by each one individually,
then the hours of synchronizing the
two perfected parts. And the thought
occurred to me that if every husband
and wife could put the same intelli-
gence and sensitivity into the busi-
ness and art of being efficient in their
relations to each other, as this duo
put into their vocation, what a great
and marvelous success would be as-
sured to the institution of marriage.
And there is no better proving
ground for such a venture than in
your beginning of married life,
where your economic conditions are
stretched, where your objectives are
alike, and when you both join forces
in promoting worthwhile projects.
Think of the power that is created,
and as you ally yourself with this
generated potential, it becomes suf-
fused in you, and you are able to
accomplish much with little— not be-
cause you are good and clever, but
because you have allied yourself
with lasting and powerful principles.
Life can be very yielding if you
yearn and strive for the joy it
can give.
A learned man divides joy into
three categories: pleasure, happiness,
and blessedness— pleasure from play,
happiness from work, and blessed-
ness from God.
And so may I salute you young
mothers; and I earnestly pray that
you may find that joy which comes
through enriched living; also that
continued pleasure, happiness, and
blessedness will be with you always.
The Legacy
( Continued from page 362 ■
Now, as the fiddles gaily swung
into "Old Dan Tucker," he took her
hand and helped her down from the
wagon. Plump little Polly, not yet
caring for a courtly hand, jumped
down by herself.
Melissa danced every dance and
wasn't tired at all. She danced with
Jared and with Mr. Strong and then
with Jared again. And then, oh,
womanly delight! another youth ap-
proached and asked for her hand
for the Virginia reel. As she do-se-
doed and galloped down the center,
she cast a quick glance to the side,
and saw Jared leaning against one
of the posts of the bowery. And he
was scowling!
When they had all driven home,
Jared lingered in the yard, took her
arm and talked quietly for a time.
On Christmas Eve, when the Salt
Lake Valley lay deep in snow, and
an occasional flickering candle in a
cabin window showed where a
mother was making honey candy
and a father was carving belated
toys, there was a tap on the barn
door. Melissa opened it to see
Jared standing in his great sheep-
skin coat. "Come out," he whispered.
She cast an apprehensive glance
at her father, sitting glumly by the
fire— no Christmas foolishness for
him— and quickly took her shawl
from the hook by the door.
They stood in the barnyard under
a winter moon that gave a dazzling
brightness to the snow. "That's not
enough to keep you warm," Jared
said, and took her into the folds of
his great coat.
"I have something for you. I
didn't want anyone else to see."
From his pocket he took something,
felt for her finger, and slipped it on.
It was a ring. Peering closer in the
moonlight, she saw that it was made
from an iron nail, carefully bent and
smoothed. The head of the nail
made a sort of setting. It was en-
graved with a heart. On the hand
holding hers was another ring like it.
"It's the best I could do." With
a lop-sided grin he added, "Actually,
I could hardly have used anything
more precious— nails, that is. Iron
nails are pretty hard to come by
around here."
She couldn't speak. It was too
much. But she laid her head on his
shoulder. "I wouldn't dare wear
it," she finally said. "Pa'd lick me."
"Do you have a chain?"
"Yes."
"Then put it around your neck."
"Oh, Jared, do you think it could
ever come true?"
"Of course it will," he said with
manly assurance.
She shook her head. "Pa's deter-
mined to go to California. I'll have
to go, too. And I'll never see you
again." She was crying softly. "It's
like a story I heard once, about a boy
(Continued on page 400)
398
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
OAKLAND TEMPLE
Architectural Woodwork and Furniture by Granite Mill
GRANITES FIFTY YEARS OF
CRAFTSMANSHIP AND
MODERN FACILITIES PROVIDE
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Since more than fifty years ago, when an old-time steam
engine provided power through endless belts and pulleys,
Granite Mill & Fixture Company has served the Intermountain
area with the finest woodworking craftsmanship. Granite
was founded in 1909 by F. R. Sandberg and associates and
today ranks among the largest special millwork plants in the
West.
Our employees represent over 400 years' experience with Granite Mill. Our modern equipment, large inventory and skilled crafts-
men combine to provide the finest and most complete general millwork package available in the Intermountain West.
Granite Mill & Fixture has served the building industry with quality millwork throughout this one-half century. Adequate stocks of
lumber, stock and custom mouldings, panels, doors and hardware are available. Cabinets, doors, frames, sash, drawers, mouldings,
partitions, woodturning, hard plastics, school furniture and church furnishings are fabricated. Our factory contains 30,000 sq. ft.
of working area. Inventory exceeds 400,000 bd. ft. of hard and soft woods. With our modern spray room, we offer prefinished
millwork if desired. Our new 55-inch, 2-drum sander guarantees the finest quality of flat board sanding. Delivery anywhere in the
West assures complete customer satisfaction.
GRANITE
MILL & FIXTURE COMPANY
1145 Wilmington Ave. Phone HU 6-7194
Salt Lake City 6, Utah
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May 1964
399
BYU CAMPUS
EDUCATION
CONTINUED LEARNING
KEY TO PROGRESS
WEEK
* ^H bHhI H ■ ' - 1
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EDUCATION WEEK
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( Continued from page 398 )
and girl named Romeo and Juliet.
They couldn't get married, 'cause
their folks hated each other."
"How did it end?"
"They died."
He took her hand as if to belie the
possibility, and said, "Whatever hap-
pens, wherever you go, someday I'll
find you. Remember that."
"I'll remember."
"Someday these rings will bring
us together again; and we'll be mar-
ried for time and eternity."
With the first thaw, Luke Harris
packed his family and belongings
and headed for California. Six
months later, a traveler heading East
brought Jared a letter from Melissa,
saying her father had become dis-
couraged in the gold fields and had
moved to San Francisco. There he
was buying and selling parcels
of land.
Jared's heart beat with excitement.
He answered immediately but didn't
received a reply before he was
called on a mission to the Society
Islands. He had two days in San
DIET DISQUIET
BY DONNA EVLETH
My meals are low in calorie count,
With vitamins in the right amount,
And I can boast that, best of all,
There's almost no cholesterol.
But in these meals of healthful bliss
There is one thing I sort of miss.
Although Vm eating what I should,
It doesn't really taste too good.
Francisco before his ship sailed and
tried vainly in the brawling, muddy
streets to find the Harris family. He
was gone for three years. At the
end of that time he sailed into the
harbor again, lean, tanned, fully
a man.
San Francisco had changed. Per-
manent buildings had replaced the
tents and hovels he had last seen.
The streets were quiet and reason-
ably clean. It was 1854. He began
a search of the city, inquiring for the
residence of Luke Harris. It soon
became apparent that Mr. Harris
was well-known. He had become
wealthy not from panning gold, but
from speculating in real estate and
had built a home on one of San
Francisco's highest hills.
400
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
1001 things every fisherman should know. When, where and how
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In addition, these top experts give
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SPECIAL NEW FEATURE \
These Field & Stream experts share the I
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A.J.McClane, Ted Trueblood, Mel Ellis, i
H.G.Tapply, Kip Farrington, Van Camp- J
en Heilner, Clare Con ley, Frank Dufresne '
■ "i — — ' ' —^ ^™» ^^ i ■ i — — — - — i — — in -in ■_— — —J
The Harris mansion was of red
brick, three stories high, standing
raw and tall among others of its
kind, the homes of the newly rich
of San Francisco. His heart beating
high, Jared tugged at' the door pull.
An Irish maid answered the door.
"Miss Harris? Miss Melissa Har-
ris?" The maid looked astonished.
"I'm sorry, sir, but she's dead."
Kenneth Ives, 26 years old in the
spring of 1964, stood waiting for the
train. His mother kissed him— for
the fourth time. "Now, Kenny, dear,
take care of yourself!"
"I will, Mother," he said patiently
—for the fourth time, and grinned
to himself. Mothers! She had said
the same thing when he went away
to college, and when he went on his
mission, and when he went into the
Army, and now—.
"Mother," his sister Betsy said,
"Kenneth isn't exactly a child. After
all, he is going to do graduate work
at the University of California."
"I know," his mother sighed, "but
somehow, Kenny, I never seem to get
used to your going away."
"What you need, Kenneth," his
father boomed, "is to settle down
and get married."
He was getting a little tired of this
oft-repeated advice. Ever since his
unhappy love for Mary Bitton, who
had refused to wait through his mis-
sion and time in the service, Kenneth
had eschewed women.
Now Betsy took him by the arm.
"The train won't be here for a
little while. Come into the station
with me."
He followed, puzzled. "I haven't
had a chance," she continued, "to
talk to you alone. I want to give
you something. Now please don't
laugh, but I've had the strongest
feeling I ought to do this."
Betsy was always getting strong
feelings. It was a family joke. But
occasionally her hunches paid off, so
Kenneth forced himself not to smile.
"I want you to take this with you,"
she said, and put a little package in
his hand.
He unwrapped it. "Oh, for good-
ness' sakes, Bets! A good luck
charm?"
"No. It's the ring Mother gave
me, the one that was passed down
in the family to her. Surely you
know the story?"
"Vaguely."
"Well, this ring was made by
Great-Great- Uncle Jared Strong,
when he fell in love with a girl
passing through Salt Lake City. He
made a ring for her, too, and they
pledged their undying love." Betsy
was warming up to her subject. "But
before he could find her, she died.
And Uncle Jared never married."
"So?"
"There's a story in the family that
someday those rings will come to-
gether again. That's why it was
kept and handed down. Now, look,
you're going to San Francisco. I'd
WESTERN SPRINGTIME
BY ANNA M. PRIESTLEY
A summer drouth had laid its fevered
hand
On every bud and blossom, stem
and leaf;
The threat of fire hung over all the
land,
And autumn promised only added
grief.
Then winter came to veil the suns
hot face
And set life stirring in the preg-
nant earth.
Long dormant seeds awoke by win-
ter's grace
And at spring's bidding shortly
came to birth.
These hills that lately were so brown
and sere
Have known the gracious benison
of rain,
And blackened earth, the proof that
fire teas here,
That swept down from the moun-
tain to the plain,
Is now a field where golden poppies
nod,
Inscribing tender messages from
God.
like awfully if you'd try to find that
other ring."
"My dear girl, I am not going to
have time for that kind of foolish-
ness, even if the other— 'ring'—
still exists."
"Oh, Kenneth, don't you have any
romance in your soul? Anyway,
please take the ring, and if you ever
get a chance, try, huh?"
Beluctantly he put it in his pocket.
"Women! Sentimental foolishness!"
But he grinned as he pecked her on
the cheek, sprinted out of the station,
kissed his mother, shook hands with
his father; and climbed aboard
his train.
As the miles passed under him,
he found himself thinking, "Is there
really a girl somewhere I could
love?" The memory of Mary Bitton
still hurt.
In San Francisco, he found an
apartment that was walking distance
from a bus that took him to Berkeley
every day. He was soon up to his
ears in study. Nuclear research was
what he intended to pursue— the
pure, white light of science. He
found a young man to share the
apartment.
Terrance Polver suited Kenneth
exactly. He was shy, owlish, earnest,
did not go out on dates but spent
his days and nights studying. He
cleaned the apartment, and Kenneth
did the cooking. They got along fine.
One Saturday afternoon, as they
shopped for their week's groceries,
they were watched with amusement
by an attractive young woman in
the uniform of an airline stewardess.
"Tonight," she heard the tall, dark
one say grandly, "we are going to
celebrate— the end of term tests!
I'm going to cook something special,
Polver, old man! Chicken Tetrazzini."
The short one looked doubtful.
"Have you ever made it before?"
"No, but what's to learn? You
haven't suffered so far, have you?"
And Kenneth went whistling off in
search of mushrooms, cream, and
Parmesan cheese.
Polver was poking helplessly at
chickens when Janet Moultrie ap-
proached. "Here," she said kindly,
"I'll help you pick out a tender one."
He looked embarrassed, but accepted
the help. When Kenneth returned,
Janet smiled and wished them the
best of luck with the chicken
Tetrazzini.
A week later she met them again.
"How was the chicken Tetrazzini?"
"Awful," Kenneth admitted. "I
should have stuck to stew."
"Where did you learn to cook,"
she asked.
He smiled. He had a nice smile.
"I used to be a Mormon missionary."
Janet didn't see them again for
several weeks, but a thought kept
nagging at her mind. "Mormons."
There was something in her family
history about the Mormons. She
went to call on her grandfather in
his house atop Nob Hill. Grand-
father was very old. He must be
ninety, at least. His house, with its
stained glass window, its tower and
cupola, was among the oldest in
402
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She climbed the steep and breath-
less flight of steps up to Grand-
father's superb view out over the
bay. These days he lived only on
the first floor. He answered the
door himself.
"Grandfather," she began, when
she was seated in the old and lovely
parlor, surrounded by the beautiful
things he had brought from all over
the world, "what is the story in our
family that concerns the Mormons?"
The old man cleared his throat.
"Well, my dear, when my mother
was twelve-years-old, she and her
family passed through Salt Lake
City, on their way to California.
They stayed through the winter
there, and her older sister Melissa
fell in love with a young man of the
Mormon faith. They parted and
never saw each other again. Melissa
died before she was twenty. She had
always been delicate but my mother
believed that she died of a broken
heart. Before she passed away, she
confided her feelings to her sister
Polly— my mother— and placed in her
keeping a remembrance that the
young man had given her— a ring
made from an iron nail— certainly
nothing of monetary value. But
Melissa was so insistent that she
keep it, and preserve it, that my
mother made her a solemn promise
that she would do so."
"Where is the ring now?" Janet
asked eagerly.
Her grandfather waved his hand
vaguely. He was old and much
talking exhausted him. "Somewhere
among my things."
But Janet persisted. "What does
it look like, Grandfather, the ring?"
He closed his eyes and leaned
back in his chair. "Very crude, as I
remember: bent by hand, the edges
roughly filed off, with a heart design
scratched on it. Mother had many
beautiful jewels. Grandfather was
a wealthy man, and she married
well. But with all the beautiful
things she had, Mother kept that old
ring." He opened his eyes and
smiled. "If the story intrigues you,
my dear, you are welcome to the
trinket. I'll get it out for you, some-
time—," he sighed, "sometime when
I am feeling stronger."
The ring, of course, meant nothing
to Grandfather. He had collected
priceless things from all over the
world. But Janet left the house
feeling curiously excited.
The next week, on the familiar
flight from Chicago back to San
Francisco, Janet paid particular at-
tention to the terrain over which she
was passing. The co-pilot nudged
her, grinning. "Haven't you seen
this mess of landscape often enough?"
She shrugged, smiled, and con-
tinued to watch. When she saw the
Wasatch Range rising ahead, and
very soon after, the Salt Lake Valley
—the orderly pattern of the city, the
temple spires pointing to heaven,
and the peculiar shape of the lake
from the air, she felt a strange tug
at her heart, as though forces were
A SCENTED TIME
BY LOUISE DARCY
A clothesline stretched between two
apple trees
When blossoms pink and white are
in full bloom
Makes hanging out the wash a
scented time,
As daily spring weaves patterns on
her loom.
With expectation I bring out the
clothes,
Knowing that petaled beauty waits
for me.
How lovely is this fragrant, spring-
time hour
When burgeoning adorns each apple
tree!
working upon her that she didn't
yet understand.
Doing her usual shopping on Sat-
urday, she saw Kenneth again push-
ing his cart around the store. "What!"
she said. "Do you mean you've
descended to macaroni and wieners?"
"Finances," he explained. "It's all
we can afford this week."
"Look," Janet said, with a sudden
friendly impulse. "Why don't you
and your friend come up and have
dinner with us tonight, my room-
mate and me? It won't be chicken
Tetrazzini, but I make a dazzling
meat ball."
Kenneth accepted. Polver suffered
agonies of embarrassment upon be-
ing introduced to the roommate, sat
down to the meal like a condemned
man, but ended by enjoying himself.
Kenneth found the evening enjoy-
able, too, more enjoyable than he
wanted to admit. He found him-
404
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
self thinking about Janet during
the week.
"This will never do," he told him-
self in the mirror. 'Tom are dedi-
cated to science. Firm up, boy!"
But it seemed like the only gen-
tlemanly thing to do to return her
invitation. So he asked her out to a
movie. Afterwards, they stood in
the hall for half an hour, talking.
Kenneth told her about his family,
his mission, and his religion. Janet
consented to go to church with him
the following Sunday.
Kenneth was studying on a Satur-
day afternoon when a telephone call
came that upset him greatly. It was
from his mother. His father had
fallen and broken his leg— severely.
Kenneth must come home at once.
Well, that was that, the end of his
pursuit of science. He would have
to run the farm until his father was
up and about again.
When he called for Janet the next
morning for church, she met him at
the door wearing a soft pink suit
and a little flowered hat. She looked
so different, not wearing her usual
dark blue uniform, so soft somehow,
that his heart turned over. He
sternly put it back in its place, tell-
ing himself that he must do the
practical thing.
He waited until he had brought
her home to tell her that he was
leaving. He stood before her door,
absently jingling the coins in his
pocket, as he told her good-bye. As
he extended his hand to take hers in
a warm farewell, she gave a start
of amazement. "Where," she cried,
"did you get that ring?"
He looked down, equally surprised
that he had absently slipped it on
his finger. "Why, it's an old keep-
sake my sister gave me. It's been
handed down in the family for
generations. There is supposed to
be another one like it somewhere."
Janet put her head against the
door frame, and the sounds that
came past her shaking shoulders
made him think, with distress, that
she was crying. What on earth had
he said? Then she looked up, and
tears of laughter were pouring down
her cheeks. "It's absolutely mar-
velous! I never thought anything
like this could happen."
He turned, hurt and astounded,
and quickly left. What did she
mean, it was "marvelous"? Was she
glad he was going?
Janet, slightly wild with surprise
and joy, ran to the telephone.
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MAY 1964
405
"Grandfather? I have to talk to you.
I'd like to have that ring. Right now,
please! I have to have it. You see,
I've found the mate to it! It can't
wait. Grandfather, he's leaving
town. Please may I come out and
get it now?"
She hung up the phone and
quickly dialed for a cab.
The next day Kenneth was pack-
ing when the phone rang. "Kenneth?
This is Janet." His heart gave a
lurch. He had thought it was all
over. "I'd like to see you once more,
before you go. It's— about a point of
scripture." Her voice sounded pe-
culiar, almost as though she were
stifling a laugh. "Could you meet
me in the park?"
"Well, I guess so," he said.
Ten minutes later he saw her sit-
ting primly on a park bench, her
gloved hands folded in her lap.
"Now," he said, "what is this
scripture you wanted clarified?"
"Well," she said, her eyes modestly
on the ground, "I was reading where
we are told not to lay up treasures
upon earth. What would you think
of a family that hoarded a treasure
for more than a hundred years?"
"Well," he ran his finger around
his collar, at a loss for an answer.
Had she brought him out here just
to ask a silly question?
"I have this treasure with me,"
she continued. "I hoped you could
give me an answer as to its value."
She pulled off her glove and to
Kenneth's amazement held out her
hand. He looked at her finger, then
into her eyes. Slowly their hands
met, the rings touched.
"I'll come back," he whispered.
"I'll wait," she answered. "There
are two things that have come to
mean so much to me, the true
Church and you."
"I'll come back. I promise I'll
come back."
BABY'S WORLD
BY ETHEL JACOBSON
How high is happiness?
Let it be said:
From her toes to the curl
On her baby head.
How wide is joy?
You'll miss it a mile
Unless you can measure
A baby's smile.
How deep is love?
What words can tell?
But one small baby
Knows very well.
Sportsmanship and Fair Flay
( Continued from page 365 )
on the victory peristyle, and Hill
came forward and took the second
place below the victor and received
his silver medal. Before the third
place winner was announced, Leight-
ner stepped down beside Hill and
removed the gold medal from around
his neck and placed it on Hill. He
then took the second place medal
and placed it around his own neck,
and literally lifted Hill to the top
step of the victory stand. The crowd
at the coliseum that day gave Leight-
ner the greatest ovation ever wit-
nessed in Olympic history. He left
the stadium second best in the 5,000
meters, but a never-to-be-forgotten
champion of honor and sportsman-
ship. He made a decision that the
judges could not make. His in-
tegrity meant more than being
champion of all the world.
Young people, remember that no
victories in your life will be worth
the sacrificing of your honor. Sports-
manship is a noble quality in man
which denotes education, emotional
maturity, and self-mastery. Never
permit selfishness, greed, conceit,
[THE
SPOKEN
WORD i
A LOOK AT PLEASURE AND
LEISURE
RICHARD L. EVANS
We talked last week of consistency and the letdowns of life, with an aware-
ness that we all need diversion and a change of pace, but should never
depart from standards of excellence or safety or consistency— or become
careless in conduct. And now we would look a moment at pleasure and
leisure and their place and importance. While there is need for leisure and
relaxation, it is not good to have too much leisure, too many idle and
unoccupied hours; for there is much too little time to do all there is to
do, to learn all there is to learn, to see all there is to see, and to serve all
who should be served. One thing seems certain: that life generally should
be used for good and purposeful purposes, and not merely for the pursuit
of pleasure. "I know no occupation in life more barren of results than
the permanent seeking of pleasure," wrote A. Lawrence Lowell. "Pleasure
is a by-product of doing something that is worth doing," he continued.
"Therefore, do not seek pleasure as such. Pleasure comes of seeking
something else. . . . The whole point of enjoying recreation is that it is
not your permanent occupation. The man who is seeking pleasure as his
main occupation in life never has any recreation because he never can
turn to anything else."1 ". . . men should be anxiously engaged in a good
cause"2 and not primarily playing— and in our need for relaxation we should
not let down to the point of making the pursuit of pleasure of utmost im-
portance. We should not work so hard at playing that playing becomes
the primary purpose. "If you seek this or that," said Thomas a Kempis,
"if you wish to be in this place or that place, to have more ease and pleasure,
you will never rest or be free from care."3 Hannah More added this sentence
to the subject: "A life devoted to trifles, not only takes away the inclina-
tion, but the capacity for higher pursuits. . . ."4 Pleasure is not the purpose
of life. Sincere happiness properly pursued may be. ". . . men are, that
they might have joy"5— but it should be a joy that comes from being
"engaged in a good cause"— in purposeful pursuits— and pleasure should be
a by-product but not the major occupation of anyone.
1A. Lawrence Lowell, President of Harvard University, 1909-1933.
*D&C 52:27.
3Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ.
4Hannah More (1745-1833), English author.
">2 Nephi 2:25.
"The Spoken Word" from Temple Square, presented over KSL and the Columbia
Broadcasting System, March 15, 1964. Copyright 1964.
406
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
and dishonesty to pull you down
to where your poor sportsmanship
is showing.
Each year the Church sponsors
many contests in athletics, dance,
drama, music, etc. In each of these
there must be but one winner and
many losers. The Lord did not in-
tend that any one should go through
life a constant winner. We learn
and grow by defeat as well as by
victory, and we must learn to accept
and benefit by both. In defeat
comes the challenge to improve, to
grow and rise above our weaknesses.
The true battle in life is not to rise
above your fellow men, but to be a
champion of yourself. Your hardest
opponent in life will be yourself and
your own weaknesses. Anyone who
can conquer himself will learn to
love and respect others despite their
imperfections. He will possess the
personal discipline and strength for
the many challenges life has to offer.
Life is measured by how well we
compete, not only in organized con-
tests, but in every phase of living.
If you would be a champion, work
toward the noblest of all champion-
ships, your own quest for the celes-
tial kingdom.
Some basic principles to remember
if you would be a good sport:
1. No matter what your pursuit in
life or the effort you put forth, there
will be others rise above you, and
they deserve your praises. This does
not mean that you will step down
and give up. It is all right to be
content with what you have, but
never with what you are.
2. When you are under the influ-
ence of anger and emotional outburst,
growth is unlikely and spiritually
is impossible.
3. If you would rise to great
heights, remember you cannot climb
on the shoulders of your fellow men,
but you must be worthy to be
lifted by those about you to this
lofty position.
4. There are two occasions in
competition when you must learn to
keep your mouth closed: one is
when you lose, and the other is when
you win.
5. A champion is not always a
consistent winner, he may have been
a one-time loser who would not quit.
If you would leave footprints in the
sands of time, it will be necessary to
wear your work shoes.
6. Our true sportsmanship is usual-
ly displayed following defeat.
7. Sportsmanship like other vir-
tues, comes by working at it. If you
are a poor sport, keep your poor
sportsmanship hidden, never let it
come out in public, never let it dic-
tate or influence your actions, and
soon it will wither and die.
8. Many have the will to win on
the day of the contest, but few (the
champions ) have the will to prepare
to win.
Theodore Roosevelt had this to say
about competition:
"It is not the critic who counts, not
he who points out where the strong
man stumbled or where the doer of
deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is
actually in the arena, whose face is
marred by dust and sweat and blood,
who tries and comes short again and
again, who knows the great en-
thusiasms, the great devotions and
spends himself in a worthy cause;
who, at best, if he fails at least fails
while daring greatly so that his place
shall never be with those cold and
timid souls who know neither victory
nor defeat."
To be a modest and humble
champion, first of yourself and then
in life's conquests is truly a mark of
success and greatness and is a Christ-
like accomplishment.
MAY 1964
407
\-
MEICHIZEDEK
ESTHOOn
Quorum
For
Melchizedek
Quorum
Presidencies
As we face
the months ahead
and weigh over responsibilities
as presidencies
of quorums of high priests,
of elders, and of seventies,
it will be of
help to remind
ourselves of what is
expected of us.
The Melchizedek
Priesthood Handbook
(new 1964 edition)
states that
these responsibilities
are as follows:
Responsi-
bilities
3.
4.
1. To care for the temporal, intellectual,
and spiritual welfare of all quorum mem-
bers and their families.
To teach quorum members their duties and re-
sponsibilities as priesthood members.
To provide opportunities for church service.
To provide adequate fellowship and fraternalism
through socials, athletics, etc., for all quorum mem-
bers.
To help members of the quorum develop a real
feeling of brotherhood and concern for each other.
The obligation of quorum presidents for the welfare
of the quorum members is stated as follows:
Visits by
Quorum
Presidencies
or Group
Leaders
Teachers,
homes of
While the Home Teachers represent the
quorum presidencies, the obligation of
presidencies to become acquainted with
the character, qualifications, and attitudes
of all quorum members remains un-
changed. After ponferring with the Home
presidencies may find occasion to visit the
particular members; to give commendation
where deserved; to bless and encourage where needed; to
teach the gospel and to inspire all to keep the command-
ments and live righteous Jives. Such visits, of necessity,
must be co-ordinated with the work of the Home Teachers
in order to avoid confusion, and duplication of effort.
In assigning Home Teaching responsibilities to stake
presidencies, high councilors, bishoprics, and other offi-
cers with heavy administrative responsibilities, care
should be taken not to assign them problem cases which
will require so much of their time that they will not be
able properly to take care of their other important duties.
They should, however, be available to give special atten-
tion to such cases where, in the opinion of the Home
Teacher and the bishop, it is necessary.
Quorum or group leaders should personally visit
homes of new quorum members as they move into the
ward before Home Teachers are assigned.
As an ultimate result of the efforts of quorum presi-
dencies and the Home Teachers, families should be in-
spired to conform to church standards including honesty,
morality, fasting, payment of a full tithe and fast offering,
keeping the Sabbath day holy, keeping the Word of Wis-
dom, attending Sacrament meeting, supporting church
authorities, and living the gospel in its fulness. The
measure of the effectiveness of the Home Teaching will
be the continued improvement of the individual mem-
bers in living church standards.
All activities should stem from these expressed
fundamentals. _ «.
408
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
can the absolute
In considering the permanency of absolute laws,
there must be a clear-edged distinction between
scientific and moral viewpoints.
There can be no argument that in a practical sense
nothing is absolute in the physical world. As a result
of the scientific revolution, many ideas which had been
generally accepted for centuries were replaced by
later developments. The theory of relativity has
superseded the law of gravity; it has changed values
in the measurement of time. The atom's indivisibility
has been shattered. The center of the universe has,
in man's understanding, shifted from the earth to
the sun. Even the concept of light as a continuum has
been supplanted with the quantum theory. We are
on the threshold of new discoveries every day. The
scientific absolute, then, is the constant target for
BY HERBERT F. MURRAY, JR.
?
research and development.
The danger lies in the application by extension of
the principles of scientific change to the absolutes of
moral laws. This concept promotes relativism, that
"good" is simply a matter of time or place. It seeks to
justify and accept everything. It leads to the belief
that there is no one right, but different kinds of right.
This postulate lacks a positive morality; it is without
a base-line from which to direct behavior. Without
standards, it is as if we can assume that there is no
injustice and evil in the world.
The texture of the arguments, the clever manipula-
tion of terms can lend an appearance of validity to
the proposition that the essence of "good" is only
relative. Consider the effect on the next generation
if the present one is unwary of this intellectual
anarchy. Even students with inquiring minds, lack-
ing in empirical backgrounds because of their youth,
may find this transfer of principles from the scientific
to the moral application somewhat reasonable. Small
wonder that insecurity and confusion touch the lives
of so many.
We believe that man has his free agency, that he is
compelled by his own nature to evaluate himself in
terms of right and wrong. He develops convictions
and has to equate his behavior with them. No ra-
tionalization of his thinking or his deeds will help
him feel acceptable to God if he is not justly so.
There is no substitute for the strength of believing
in God's laws, in keeping them according to the gos-
pel of Jesus Christ. The challenges of science are in
no way constrained by the disciplines of faith. The
absence of spiritual stability, on the other hand, can
become obsolete
cause the erosion of moral fiber. Latter-day Saints
must be alert regarding attempts to transfer concepts.
Our code of morals, our respect for justice and truth,
are not arbitrary rules. They are the result of man's
wisdom under God for thousands of years. They are
cumulative of the spiritual heritage which has been
generating since Adam.
As violation of the physical laws can bring disaster,
violation of moral laws can be equally disastrous. The
laws of eternal truth are not subject to the relativist's
time or place relationship. The immutability of laws
of our Heavenly Father was expressed by Jesus
Christ in addressing Joseph Smith, ". . , truth abideth
and hath no end. . . ." (D&C 88:66.)
MAY 1964
409
Without a doubt the greatest peace-
time disaster to hit the United States
was the great depression of 1929-
1932. Your parents or grandparents
may have told you about the bread-
lines, the dust bowl migrants, the
shipping-box home district of the
large cities, the layoffs in industry,
and the drought on the farms. But
perhaps the worst disaster of all was
the "erosion" of human beings. Some
men went on relief and never worked
again or took leaf-raking jobs with
the WPA and never regained their
self-respect.
One major tragedy was that young
people of that time never gained
the education to which they were
entitled. Teenagers such as I often
found the need for food and clothing
much more urgent than the need for
education. As a boy on the farm, I
learned to stack hay, milk cows,
weed beets, slop pigs, and perform
many other farm tasks. Upon mov-
ing to the city it was not a challenge
to burn trash and empty garbage
pails at an apartment house each
morning before school and to sell
newspapers on the streets during the
evenings. Although this was not
very educational, at least our family
( all of my brothers and sisters work-
ing together) was able to stay off
government relief and WPA.
There is no substitute for learning
to work so hard physically that
when you go to bed at night, you
know you have given your job every-
thing you had.
Young folk who are deprived of
farm labor today can achieve this
feeling in football practice and in
competition of all types of sports,
in ROTC, through work at home, in
the MIA, on meetinghouses and sur-
rounding grounds. Regardless of the
vocation or profession you pursue,
the ability and willingness to work
hard is inevitably essential to success.
Have I ever regretted my lack of
formal education? Of course I have.
Education improves one's chances
for success manyfold. There is no
substitute for an education. But the
value of education, you will find, is
not in the facts you memorize but in
the ability to think something
through fully and to plan ahead.
The high school graduate can
think better and therefore has a
better chance for a higher economic
THE
PRESIDING
BISHOPRIC'S
PAGE
BY CLIFFORD O. GLEDHILL
Clifford O. Gledhill is a former presi-
dent of the Great Lakes Mission. He
now owns and operates the Gledhill
Dodge Automobile Agency in Salt
Lake City and serves on the Church
Priesthood Missionary Committee.
Elder Gledhill filled a mission in
California and held ward and stake
positions, including superintendent
of stake Sunday Schools and YMMIA
while still young. He has served in
bishoprics and high councils.
He was born in Vermillion, Utah,
but moved with his family to Cali-
fornia, where he graduated from
high school and attended Los An-
geles City College. He is married
and the father of three children.
Mrs. Gledhill is a member of the
Relief Society general board.
410
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
livelihood than the grade school
graduate. The young person who
goes through college has a still better
chance for economic success than the
one with a high school diploma.
But— and it is a big, big but— not
everyone in our Church has an op-
portunity for formal education of-
fered to him on a silver platter, as
I well know.
The loss of a parent, a family's
economic problems— these and many
other situations can present attend-
ance at college or can even prevent
finishing high school.
You can, however, gain an educa-
tion in other ways— through night
school, correspondence courses, by
attending educational meetings in
the community, mixing and exchang-
ing ideas with those who participate
in civic and church affairs.
Everyone need not strive to be a
doctor, a lawyer, engineer, or pursue
other professions that require extra
years of education. There are many
fields of endeavor where financial
rewards are high for those who are
skilled with their hands. There are
good opportunities at surprisingly
good pay for plumbers, carpenters,
machinists, mechanics, and others
who have skills needed in industry.
Most of the important improvements
in industry are developed by people
who are doing the work as opposed
to those who hope to make improve-
ments or discoveries by merely
sitting around and dreaming.
You need not have university
training to use your mind to get into
step, into cadence, with the needs of
the job or industry in which you
find yourself.
A third suggestion, if I were you:
Have faith in your fellow men— in
the men you work with and work for.
In the mission field I expected the
best from the 553 missionaries who
came under my charge. They lived
up to that challenge because they
also wanted to measure up to the
trust placed in them by their friends,
families, and church leaders at home.
In the automotive business I've
been able to deal with people other
dealers have avoided. The reason is
simply this: I believe in people; I
have faith in them, and very few
ever violate this trust. Basically
everyone wants to do the fair thing
by his brother; everyone wants to
be accepted by his fellow men. To
be accepted one must accept others
and have faith in them. I believe
that a man who doesn't trust his
fellow man doesn't grow in our so-
ciety. He will eventually become
miserable, withdrawn, and crawl
into a shell.
This leads me, finally, to spiritual-
ity. Spirituality should be a part of
everyday living that begins and ends
each day with prayer and preserves
the attitude developed thereby in
every relationship. Certainly we
grow spiritually when we do every-
thing we can to help ourselves— read
the scriptures and good books of all
kinds, work hard in our everyday
tasks, and contend vigorously with
the problems of the day. Only in
this way can we deserve an answer
when we call upon the Lord. We
shouldn't expect the Lord to do our
work for us, but we should never
hesitate to ask for his assistance.
If I were you, I would learn the
value of hard physical work; seek
diligently for education; trust in the
basic desire of people to be honest
and fair; make spirituality a part of
your everyday life.
411
^1
■/'■'■
w
\\l
-J
mother
is...
412
- - j~~~^t
A mother is laughter to wake up to.
A mother is a new dress for the prom.
A mother is a warm blanket.
A mother is an early morning rustle in the kitchen.
A mother is supper on the patio.
A mother is a footstep in the night.
A mother is a gentle taunt.
A mother is a closet full of freshly ironed shirts.
A mother is a towel picker-upper.
A mother is an alarm clock.
A mother is a house turned upsidedown in the spring.
A mother is a voice whispering, uYou can do better. y
A mother is iced lemonade on a hot day.
A mother is a light left on to welcome you home.
A mother is a shining sink.
A mother is the fragrance of baking bread.
A mother is our conscience stirred.
A mother is a snack for the crowd after a dance
A mother is an ample lap.
A mother is the phrase, (<0f course you can do it, try hard. J
A mother is a crisp waffle.
A mother is a cool hand on a hot brow.
A mother is words on a printed page turned into a cake.
A mother is essential when- you come in from school.
A mother is a pair of rose-colored glasses.
A mother is a sympathetic ear.
A mother is an understanding heart.
A mother is someone who cares constantly and completely.
She is also a tradition. There always
have been and there always will be
mothers. Many family traditions are
carried on through her. Every child
should be able to say, "My mother
makes the best pie, cake, hash, or
whatever it may be, in the whole
world." This is an age of specialists,
and mothers are no exception. Be
able to make something to perfec-
tion. Another way a tradition can
be carried on is by making the past
come alive by handing down old
family recipes. There is a genealogy
of recipes. Trace that special pud-
ding recipe of your mother's to its
source. You will find, in many cases,
it has traveled over mountains and
oceans from another country to you.
Little old recipe books came across
the plains closely hugged and care-
fully protected as precious posses-
sions. If all your modern cookbooks
were burned, are these special family
recipes written indelibly on your
brain, or can they be found in the
back of some drawer in a smudged
notebook with yellowed pages full
of your genealogy of eating?
Surely there is something your
family enjoys eating that gave the
same enjoyment to generations be-
fore you. Treasure this dish, write
it up in modern measurements and
directions for your children. Teach
them how to make it, and the chain
from long ago will be strengthened.
There should be pride in saying,
"Great-grandmother in Wales used to
bake this cake," or "My great-great-
grandfather, living away up in the
northernmost part of Sweden, used
to relish this very dish." This con-
tinuity lends security to a child.
There has been a past; now is great;
but best of all, there will be a future.
Enrich your family by connecting
the past with the present in the form
of a special family recipe. Mothers,
this is your job!
MAY 1964
413
mother
is...
Yorkshire Pudding
5 tablespoons flour
1 egg
V2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
6 tablespoons hot beef drippings
Beat the egg well, then add the milk,
salt, and the flour. Beat with a rotary
beater until smooth. Add 6 table-
spoons of hot beef drippings in a
9-inch cake pan. Then place the pan
with the hot beef drippings in a
375 degree F. oven. When the
drippings are sizzling hot, pour in
the Yorkshire pudding mixture. Bake
about 45 minutes until the pudding
has a brown crispy outside and a soft
center. Serve immediately with roast
beef and gravy.
Grandma's Cinnamon Bread
1 egg, beaten
V4 cup melted butter or margarine
V4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 package yeast
V4 cup lukewarm water
1 cup milk, scalded and cooled to
lukewarm
3x/2 cups flour, approximately
Soften the yeast in the warm water.
Add all the other ingredients. Knead
the dough well. Let it rise in a cov-
ered greased bowl until double in
bulk. Punch down. Let it rest
covered on the bread board for 10
minutes. Roll out to a rectangle.
Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle
with V4 cup sugar and 1V2 teaspoons
cinnamon. Roll as for jelly roll; seal
ends and place in a 5 by 10 inch
loaf pan. Let double in bulk. Bake
at 350 degrees F. for about 45 min-
utes. Remove from pan and while
still warm brush with 1 teaspoon
light corn syrup and sprinkle with
an additional 2 tablespoons sugar
and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. This
bread is tender and so delicious that
it will disappear in minutes. It is
especially good served with large
bowls of steaming soup.
Split Pea Soup
1 pound green split peas
3 quarts boiling water
1 pound sausage
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced onion
salt and pepper to taste
dash nutmeg
Pour boiling water over the split
peas and let stand for 15 minutes.
Drain and cook peas in 3 quarts
fresh salted water. Bring to boil and
drop in the sausage which has been
formed into 1-inch balls and then
rolled in flour. Cook soup slowly
until the peas are all mashed up and
the sausage in it well-cooked. Stir
occasionally to prevent burning on
the bottom. Add the celery and
onions at least half an hour be-
fore serving.
Start a tradition in your family
now by making a certain candy
better than anyone else. It would
be fun if you heard your little boy
brag, "My mother can even make
marshmallows."
"Little Angels" (Marshmallows so
light and fluffy)
3 cups sugar
1 cup water
IV2 tablespoons gelatin
1 cup cold water
2 teaspoons vanilla
Dissolve the sugar in the water and
boil until it spins a thread when
dropped from a spoon into cold
water. In the meantime soak the
gelatin in the cup of cold water.
Pour the syrup over the gelatin. Cool
slightly and beat until white, fluffy,
and stiff. Add the vanilla. Pour into
an 8 by 8 by 1 inch buttered pan.
Cover with plastic wrap and let set
for a number of hours in the re-
frigerator. Cut into 6 strips and re-
move the strips from the pan and
roll in a mound of shredded coconut.
Cut into squares and roll again in the
coconut. Store in a tightly cov-
ered container.
Or maybe you would like to be
known for your delicious minted nuts.
Minted Nuts
1 cup sugar
V2 cup water
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
dash of salt
6 marshmallows
Vz teaspoon essence of 'peppermint
3 cups walnuts or pecans
Mix and boil to a very soft ball stage
when tested in cold water. Remove
from the heat and add 6 marsh-
mallows and stir until they are
melted. Add Vz teaspoon essence of
peppermint. Stir until it begins to
harden then add 3 cups walnuts or
pecans and spread on waxed paper.
Break up and cool.
It is a wonderful memory to look
back on your childhood and remem-
ber a 6-quart ice cream freezer
filled with a creamy fruit ice cream.
Fruit Ice Cream ( Makes 6 quarts )
3V2 cups peaches (sweetened and
mashed), or crushed pineap-
ple, or mashed strawberries
4 cups sugar
V2 cup lemon juice
juice of 2 oranges
2 cups whipping cream, whipped
1 tablespoon vanilla
V2 teaspoon almond extract
Mix all together in a 6-quart freezer
and add enough milk to come within
2 inches of the top. Freeze and enjoy.
Mother's Walnut Cookies
% cup butter or margarine
V4 teaspoon salt
cup brown sugar
cups white sugar
eggs, well beaten
cups flour, unsifted
teaspoons baking powder
1
2
4
3V2
IV2
% cup walnuts, chopped
Combine the butter, salt, and sugar,
and cream until light. Add the
beaten eggs, mix. Sift the flour and
baking powder and add. Fold in the
nuts and drop from a teaspoon on a
buttered cookie sheet. Bake at 375
degrees F. until brown.
414
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Cookies
2 eggs
1% cups sugar
2 teaspoons soda
IV2 cups old-fashioned sour cream
4Vz cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
Beat the eggs and the sugar until
light. Add the soda to the sour
cream and add alternately with the
flour, salt, and baking powder. Add
the vanilla. Drop on greased cookie
sheets and flatten with a small glass
dipped in sugar. Bake at 425 de-
grees F. just until lightly browned.
The next recipe is one for a tasty
old-fashioned corn relish made in the
modern easy way.
Corn Relish
3 tablespoons sugar
Vs cup vinegar
Vz teaspoon salt
V4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
dash Tabasco sauce
V2 teaspoon celery seed
V4 teaspoon mustard seed
1-12 ounce can whole kernel corn
Vz finely chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped green
onion
Combine the first 7 ingredients and
bring to the boil. Boil for 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat and combine
with the remaining ingredients. Chill
and store covered in the refrigerator.
Flavor improves on standing.
Danish Dumplings
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons flour
2 eggs
1 tablespoon shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
dash nutmeg
Add the shortening to the milk and
bring to a boil. Mix the remaining
ingredients with the exception of the
eggs and add to the boiling milk.
Stir constantly. When mixture is
thick, cook, adding the eggs one at
a time, beating well after addition
of each egg. Cool. Drop by teaspoons
into soup (not boiling) and let cook
covered about 5 minutes.
9 CROSSROADS IN THE SKY
5w
UNIQUE SUMMER CAMP
For Boys and Girls
is the unique place of a Summer
camp for boys and girls between
the age of ten and seventeen,
where some of the most ancient
history of our continent still
comes to life in mesa, mountain
and lake.
Nature itself providing the almost endless vistas for
• NIGHT CAMPING (with Chuck Wagon) • ROUNDUP
• CATTLE DRIVE •HUNTING •FISHING
• SPORTS and TRAILS . .
On those trails the youngsters will meet Navajo, Zuni, Acoma,
or Laguma and Apache tribes on their own homegrounds and
they will participate in the Indian Ceremonial Festival in Gal-
lup, which is celebrated with all the splendor of ancient and
timeless adventure.
Modern hogans will provide the most romantic housing facilities of
the camp and the ranch provides plenty of such food which can only
be envied by townfolks.
TIME will seem to stand still and to fly at the same time for all the youngsters
who come to the "CROSSROADS IN THE SKY," but it will remain unforgettable
as a unique experience in VACATION-CAMP.
CROSSROADS IN THE SKY
BOX 38
BLUEWATER, NEW MEXICO
FAMILY CRESTS - COAT OF ARMS
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execute orders for English, Welsh and Scottish
names and for other nationalities.
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MAY 1964
415
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'THE FRIENDS OF THE
YOUNG . . ."
RICHARD L. EVANS
One of the most effective ways of conditioning the character and con-
duct of children, of youth, as well as of others, is to be what we would have
them be— to be convincing in the counsel we give by living or keeping our
own counsel, by the example of our lives. Parents are initially most im-
portant in the lives of children, for theirs is the first relationship of life.
Their power of example is great, as also are their attitudes, and the subtle
and undefined influences. In speaking of this in a negative sense, an an-
cient prophet said: "Ye have lost the confidence of your children, because
of your bad examples before them."1 "The mind, like the body," said
William Ellery Channing, "depends on the climate it lives in, on the air it
breathes."2 "How about the home atmosphere?" asks another earnest
observer. "This is the air the childplant breathes . . . home, and friends,
and school: These make the soil in which these human plants are grow-
ing. . . . Reverence [respect] cannot be forced out of a child on demand
or by saying it ought to be; but any mother [any parent] can command it
by being the kind of person a child can reverence [or respect]. . . "3 "The
only rational way of educating," observed Albert Einstein, "is to be an
example."4 "Whether it be for good or evil," said John Jebb, "the education
of the child is principally derived from its own observation of the actions,
words, voice, and looks of those with whom it lives.— The friends of the
young, then, cannot be too circumspect in their presence to avoid every
and the least appearance of evil."5 This phrase, "the friends of the young,"
must, of course, include parents, teachers, and others— all who deeply and
sincerely would help youth make the most of their lives. This friendly
or unfriendly aspect applies also to all private and public influences, to
whatever appears in print, to whatever by any means or media is permitted
to make its impressions upon young people. We all have responsibility for
the images and influences that condition the character and conduct of
others. Those who are truly the friends of the young will use their most
earnest efforts to see that the lives of youth are not infused with adverse
influences that tend to break down manners and morals, to glorify violence,
or loose living, or to encourage adverse appetites, or add excitement without
regard to character or consequences. "The friends of the young . . . cannot
be too circumspect."
ijacob 2:3.
2William Ellery Channing (1780-1842), American Unitarian clergyman.
3Barnetta Brown, "Mothers' Mistakes and Fathers' Failures," The Ladies Home Journal, January 1900.
4Albert Einstein.
5Tohn Jebb (1775-1833), Irish Protestant bishop.
"The Spoken Word" from Temple Square, presented over KSL and the Columbia
Broadcasting System, March 1, 1964. Copyright 1964.
LAMENT OF A MISSIONARY'S MOTHER
BY EDITH DEWEY
This is a hint, as it's well meant to be.
Come on, fella, for don't you see
That mothers can worry, so why not drop a line?
It really doesn't take too much time.
The Lord needs your help,
But your Mom needs to know
That her fella is okay, and doing fust so.
Put it on paper, and just take the time
To say "Hi, Mom— doing just fine!"
416
The Church in Early
California
( Continued from page 373 )
such as onions, forty dollars a hun-
dred; potatoes, one hundred fifty
dollars a ton.
A historical marker placed in 1949
proclaims that the New Hope settle-
ment was the first agricultural
colony in the San Joaquin Valley.
Here was planted what is thought to
be the first wheat in California. They
also irrigated by pole and bucket
method. They erected three log
houses, and operated sawmill and
ferry across Stanislaus settlement
later known as Stanislaus City.
Brother Horner erected a church
and schoolhouse building in 1850 in
Centerville, which has been called
the first Mormon chapel erected in
California. In the panic of 1855-56
he found himself over-extended, and
in the years that followed he rebuilt
his fortune in northern California
and in Hawaii. In later years he
contributed articles to The Improve-
ment Era. He died May 14, 1907.
The treaty at Guadalupe Hidalgo
February 2, 1848 had concluded the
Mexican War and given to the
United States New Mexico (the
region so-called by the Mexicans)
and Upper California and fixed the
Texas-Mexico line at the Rio Grande.
The territory ceded by Mexico com-
prised the present states of Cali-
fornia, Nevada, and Utah, most of
the present New Mexico and Ari-
zona, and part of Colorado and
Wyoming. An "omnibus bill" of
1850 had further linked the area to-
gether by granting California state-
hood and giving territorial status to
Utah and New Mexico.
Latter-day Saints called from Salt
Lake City settled San Bernardino in
1851, purchasing a great ranch
there. A stake was organized July
6, 1851 with David Seely as presi-
dent. This colony flourished until
1858 when church members were
recalled to Utah as problems with
the federal government developed.
In 1854 Elder Parley P. Pratt,
then in charge of the Church in Cali-
fornia, reported that missionaries
were laboring in San Francisco,
Union City, Santa Clara, Santa
Cruz, and Sacramento, and in various
mining areas. The work seemed
slow but there was a bright part of
the picture. "I have," he concluded,
"a supply of books coming 'round
the 'Horn' from Liverpool."
Elder George Q. Cannon, then re-
siding on church assignment in San
Francisco, published the Book of
Mormon in the Hawaiian language
there in 1855. He began the West-
ern Standard, a paper in the interest
of the Church, the first number being
published February 23, 1856.
The conference at San Francisco
held April 6, 1856 indicates that
there was a total of twenty-eight
members of the Church in that city,
including one high priest, five seven-
ties, one teacher, and one deacon.
Since the last conference seven had
immigrated to Utah, and one mem-
ber had passed away.
Through the years, San Francisco
would remain, as it had been, the
port where missionaries leaving for
and returning from the Pacific Is-
lands missions would depart and
arrive. Little actual missionary work
was done in California, however,
during these early years.
Then on December 6, 1890, Elder
J. W. Pickett, who was temporarily
residing in Oakland, baptized Al-
fred A. Nethercott and his wife
Charlotte, and Charles J. Nethercott
and his wife Rebecca. This event
may be considered as the reopening
of missionary labors by The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
in California.
"The Oakland Branch of The
THE
SPOKEN
WORD '
CONSISTENCY-AND KEEPING
STANDARDS
RICHARD L. EVANS
May we consider a moment the question of consistency— consistency as to
keeping standards as contrasted with the letdowns of life. Sometimes after
long effort, long work, we may look to a change of pace, and ask ourselves
when can we relax? When can we let down in life? There must be
some diversions. We cannot drive all the time, nor be on tension all the
time. On the other hand, we can never afford to become careless. We can
ill afford to sacrifice quality. We can never afford to sacrifice safety.
We cannot afford, ever, to let down in the basic standards of life. The
moment we begin to cut corners, the moment we begin to let things run
a little too loose, we could have real reason for regret. Sometimes people
perform the same service so long that it becomes routine to them— so much
so that they fail to give due attention to it, fail to check, fail to take precau-
tions, or to provide a sufficient margin of safety. On this point Publius
Syrus left these words of warning: "He is most free from danger, who
even when safe, is on his guard."1 The moment anyone fails to proceed
according to proved and sound standards, or to take sufficient precautions
he could have dangerous difficulties. We all need relaxation and physical
and mental refreshment. But there is no time in any person's life, at any
age, young or old, when he can afford to let down as to standards of excel-
lence or honor or honesty as to morals and conduct and commandments.
"Without consistency there is no moral strength."2 And age or boredom or
routine or fatigue are no real reason for letting down standards. It is too
great a responsibility to become careless in conduct or to cut corners or
ignore conscience, or to become lax in any procedure where safety or
standards of honor or excellence are concerned. "The secret of success,"
said Disraeli, "is constancy of purpose."5 Always we ought to be our better
selves. And all of us, at any age, would well avoid carelessness, substandard
performance, or the unwise, hazardous letdowns of life. Enduring to the
end is still the great and satisfying source of safety— and salvation.
-; .
'Publius Syrus (1st Century BC), Roman slave and poet.
-John Jason Owen (1803-69), American clergy.
benjamin Disraeli (1804-81), English statesman and author.
"The Spoken Word" from Temple Square, presented over KSL and the Columbia
Broadcasting System, March 8, 1964. Copyright 1964.
MAY 1964
417
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GENEALOGICAL COPY SERVICE
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Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints was organized by Elder John
L. Dalton with Joseph Nattress as
president," Sunday, October 2, 1892.
(Elder Dalton was president of the
newly activated California Mission.)
"Two weeks later, at a meeting held
October 16th, the brethren decided
to hold two meetings each Sunday
and their intentions were advertised
in The Examiner. Very few people
attended these meetings, however,
and the rent being a little high
($15.00 a month) they decided to
move to the Thomas Hall in East
Oakland, 1156% 14th Street. The
first meeting was held in Thomas
Hall December 4, 1892 wth Karl G.
Maeser preaching."
Dr. Maeser, a legend in the field
of education in the Church, was in
charge of the church exhibit at the
Mid-winter Fair in San Francisco
( 1893-94 ) and served as president
of the California Mission in 1894.
On May 1, 1894, he changed the
place of holding meetings in San
Francisco, the new address being
29-llth Street, and circulated sev-
eral hundred invitations throughout
that city to dedicatory services of
the California Mission Chapel set
for Sunday, May 6. A note in the
manuscript history of the California
Mission says that the rent on this
building would cost $20.00, and an
organ was being rented for $2.50 a
month. Some other expenses were
incurred by the Saints in getting gas
fixtures for illumination. Other im-
provements were made.
Elder Henry S. Tanner succeeded
Dr. Maeser in the work in the mis-
sion. An interesting report signed
by President Tanner on December
31, 1895 indicates that there were
branches in San Francisco, Fresno
County, Sacramento, San Diego, San
Bernardino, and Los Angeles. He
comments on the bottom of the re-
port: "This report shows an increase
of 130 souls in the mission in the
last year, without counting the 25
who have emigrated, leaving us 204
souls in the mission at the present
time. The missionaries are counted
in this report. There are 16 mission-
aries in the field. . . . Three have
their families here. . . ."
The Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir,
under the direction of Professor
Evan Stephans, gave concerts in
Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose,
and Sacramento in April 1896, with
President Heber J. Grant, then a
member of the Council of the
Twelve, addressing some of the audi-
ences. Following these concerts the
missionaries in California had greater
success in their labors.
After the San Francisco earth-
quake and fire in April 1906 the
headquarters of the California Mis-
sion were moved from San Francisco
to Los Angeles. The mission was
divided in January 1942 and San
Francisco again became a mission
headquarters city, this time of the
Northern California Mission. Today
the headquarters of this mission is
in Oakland.
A group of Saints from Rexburg,
Idaho, purchased farm land in the
Gridley area, and early in 1907, a
colony of Latter-day Saints was
functioning.
The first stake in present-day Cali-
fornia, the Los Angeles Stake, was
organized January 21, 1923 with
George W. McCune as president;
Hollywood Stake was organized May
22, 1927, from parts of Los Angeles,
with President McCune serving as
president of the new stake. San
Francisco Stake was organized May
10, 1927 with W. Aird Macdonald
as president.
Today there are more than sixty
strong stakes in California. Within
the boundaries of the state three full-
time missions function: California,
Northern California, and West Span-
ish American.
Briefly, this is the heritage of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints in California. For more than
a century the Church has both
nourished and been nourished by
the wonderful people who make
their homes in that state of the
golden west.
MOTHER'S DAY BOUQUET
BY FRANCES GORMAN RISSER
One tiny rosebud,
Fresh and pink and new,
Now another opens,
There are— count them— two.
Two little rosebuds
Nudge their sister, see
How she fluffs her petals,
Making roses three.
Three dancing rosebuds
Peeping in the door,
Noiv the last one opens-
It's nice to have four
Full bloicn pink roses,
Lovely, bright, and gay,
They'll make such a pretty
Mothers Day bouquet!
418
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
The'Era of Youth
MAY, 1964
MARION D. HANKS, EDITOR
ELAINE CANNON, ASSOC. EDITOR
:
^^
The Divine Nature
May begins another period of time in our eternal destiny. To
know oneself, to note daily progress, to dream an eternal destiny,
to cultivate the qualities of character of divine nature is im-
portant business for youth.
President David O. McKay has often quoted,
"Sow a thought; reap an action
Soic an action; reap a habit
Sow a habit; reap a character
Soiv a character; reap an eternal destiny."
This is the challenge President Grant Thome of the North-
east British Mission presents to his young missionaries each year.
To help each youth understand and strive for the qualities of
Godliness, he suggests they reexamine and rediscover their rela-
tionship to the divine nature and put their thoughts in ivriting.
And so began the serious reflection.
The essays were written. Thoughts were sown.
We heard of the project and asked to see some of the
material as it teas sent to mission headquarters. Much of it
seemed pertinent to the lives of youth everywhere. This month
we are presenting selections from this project. We share these
writings with you that your lives may be happier, higher . . .
"That ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped
the corruption that is in the world." (2 Peter 1:4.)
The Editors
Loyalty
I first became acquainted with the importance of loyalty
about ten years ago when I joined the Boy Scouts. The
second Scout law is loyalty, and we were taught that loyalty
goes beyond our country; we were taught to be loyal to
ourselves, to our fellow men, and to God.
The account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego has
always fascinated me. King Nebuchadnezzar told them
that if they did not bow down to his golden image, they
420 THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
would be thrown into a fiery furnace. But they were loyal
to their God, knowing that he would protect them. This
threat of death had no effect upon them. As Nebuchadnezzar
had promised, they were thrown into the fiery furnace, but
not a hair of their heads was harmed. They were loyal to
the Lord, and he protected them.
Again I refer to the scriptures to quote one of the finest
tributes that has ever been paid a group of men. The Book
of Mormon tells about the 2,000 stripling warriors that
"they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever
thing they were entrusted." (Alma 53:20.) They were
men who were loyal in everything they did. They were
men who could be trusted.
We as missionaries have a great responsibility ; we must
be loyal. We must be loyal to our parents. They are sup-
porting us for these two years and are sacrificing to keep
us here. We owe it to them to be the best missionaries
we are capable of being.
We must be loyal to ourselves. Two years is a long
time to take out of the life of a young man if it is not used
wisely. We must be honest with ourselves. To live with
ourselves we must be able to look ourselves straight in the
eye, having a clear conscience. Even if the whole world is
against us, if we are loyal to ourselves, we can enjoy life.
But when we go against mission rules and waste our time,
we are being disloyal to ourselves and our resistance to
the rough spots of life is weakened.
Most of all, we must be loyal to our God. He is our
Father, and he has sent us to the earth as a test. When
we were nineteen-years-old, he gave us the opportunity of
going out into the world to bear his name and promised us
rich blessings if we would do so in honor. But we were not
forced to come — the decision was ours. We accepted this
call, and along with it we accepted every rule and regulation
that apply to a missionary. If we do not live true to the
covenants we have made with the Lord, we are cheating
him. We must be loyal to the Lord if we want to enter
the celestial kingdom.
When Pompeii was destroyed, many people perished.
Sixteen hundred years later when the city was unearthed,
some were found in the streets, some in deep vaults, others
on top of buildings. Of special interest, however, was the
Roman sentinel, who was found still standing by the city
gate his war weapon in his hand. What a lesson in loyalty !
How much is my loyalty worth to me? Would I be
willing to sell it for money like Judas Iscariot? When I
stand before God to be judged for my works, may I be
found loyal even unto death as this Roman sentinel was.
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MAY 1964
421
Confidence -Humility
We are chosen representatives of the Lord. He has placed
his confidence in us, entrusting- us to preach his gospel. If
we are to succeed and do that which we have been set apart
to do, we must have confidence and trust in ourselves.
Because we are engaged in the Lord's work, we should
desire to meet the qualifications he has set down for those
who would be in his service. High on the list is humility —
our safeguard against pride and arrogance and all other
traits which are in opposition to the qualities God would
have us cultivate.
Making confidence a part of our character means that
we will develop within us a feeling of trust and assurance,
of faith in our own ability to accomplish that which we set
out to do. We will know that we can do whatever is required
of us, and, because of our own conviction, others will feel
it, and they, too, will have confidence in us.
Humility is our awareness of our own insignificance,
our own unimportance in the vast scheme of things. To
possess humility is to know of our weaknesses and failures ;
as we acknowledge these weaknesses and work to overcome
them, we are laying the foundation on which our confidence
can be built.
This, then, is how confidence will grow within us — we
are first victors over our shortcomings and weaknesses;
next we experience small flashes of confidence in little
things, and assurance will gradually grow until at last we
feel sure in doing certain things. We have confidence we
can do these things.
Most of us are still in a stage of feeling confident in
our ability to do only "certain things" — our confidence is
not yet all-encompassing. As we comply with our Father's
requirements and incorporate into our lives the virtues
which will uplift and improve us, we will be able to go forth
fully confident in our ability to do all things, happy in the
knowledge that we are serving the Lord with our "heart,
might, mind, and strength."
422
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
There is no yardstick by which we can measure the
amount of humility we possess ; nor indeed is it a quality
that is meant to be measured, far to try to do^sojwould,
openly announce that we do not possess this trait in our
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character. However, since it has been said that humility
is the foundation of all virtues, it is essential that we follow
the admonition of Peter and ". . . be clothed in humility . . ."
that we may then work to attain and appreciate the other
attributes of the divine nature.
Faith and Prayer
Shortly before coming on my mission, I visited the World's
Fair in Seattle, Washington. This was truly a wonderful
experience to see the industry and culture of the world on
display. I thrilled at the fair's landmark, the Space Needle,
which towered 625 feet above the crowded Seattle streets. I
marveled at the giant tramway which looked as if it be-
longed to another world. These and countless other exhibits
and displays held me spellbound for the entire two days.
The highlight of the entire fair, for me, was the United
States Science exhibit. Here was a gigantic structure of
superb architectural design costing in the neighborhood of
nine million dollars. It was filled with curious, and a.we=
inspiring exhibits which pointed out unmistakably that the
world we live in did not come about by chance but that it is
a part of a great and ingenious plan devised by a
greater power.
One of these exhibits in particular made a profound
impression on me which I shall always remember. There
was a man standing on a platform holding an ordinary 2x4
board in his hands. His assistant pulled a lever which
caused a tremendous amount of electricity to flow into the
man's body. The power of the electricity was so great that
the board almost instantly caught fire. The man, however,
was unharmed.
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MAY 1964
423
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He stepped off the platform and proceeded to describe
to the audience exactly what had happened and why. After
a brief but clear explanation, he asked if everyone under-
stood ; were there any questions ? Everyone understood ;
there were no questions.
Next the man asked how many in the group thought
that they could do the same thing? Immediately everyone's
hand shot up. The man enthusiastically reached for another
board and said, "All right, who's first?" All was still and
very silent. The man looked disappointed. He set the
2x4 down, paused for a moment, and then made an analogy
which I'll never forget.
He said, "The overwhelming majority of the so-called
Christian worldtodav have the same kind of faith in God
as you have had in this experiment. They believe in God.
They believe he created the world. They believe he is all-
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powerfuTT Th*ey"believe he hears and answers prayers.
They believe m all these things and many more, but like you
here with this experiment their belief is vain because they
do nothing about it. I ask you, is this laith? No ! Faith is
more than intellectual assent. True faith leads to works.
There is no true faith without works." I silently
nodded approval.
As missionaries we have faith in God. We have faith
in God or we wouldn't be here, but I sometimes wonder just
how much faith we have in ourselves. I think we fail to
realize the tremendous power that we have within us as
children and servants of God. I believe that one big reason
why men do not develop greater abilities, greater methods,
greater resourcefulness is because they use neither their
abilities nor their opportunities. We don't need more
minim iiriiaaa^w^^aiMMi^giaw^^ *w
strength or more ability or greater opportunity. What we
need is to use what we have. Missionaries fail, and the
Church suffers when all the time these men have in their
possession the same assets other men are utilizing to achieve
success. Have you ever heard the expression "if the Lord's
willing, we'll. . . ." The Lord is always willing. If we fail,
it isn't because of the Lord. As Cassius said, "The fault,
dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves that we
are underlings."
We must develop faith in ourselves. We must realize
the capabilities with which we have been endowed and then
humbly pray that under the Lord's direction we may use
these talents in accomplishing his will. It was once said
that we should pray as though everything depended upon
the Lord and then get up and work as though everything
depended upon us.
God does not bless man's efforts until he has made
424
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
man feel that the best of his own strength has been put
forth. Without God, man's strength is vain ; but it would
be vain for God to help man, except under the veil of
man's self-help.
Brigham Young observed, "Whenever you give a man
something for nothing, the first person he comes to dislike
is you." So it is with the Lord. He doesn't give us some-
thing for nothing. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
he also reap."
This works both ways. Life doesn't cheat. It doesn't
pay in counterfeit coin. It doesn't lock up shop and go home
when payday comes. It pays every man exactly what he
has earned. The age-old law that a man gets what he earns
hasn't been suspended. When we take that truth home and
believe it, we've turned a big corner on the highroad that
leads to success.
"The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avail-
eth much." If we combine our faith with our prayer, if
we pray for the Lord's guidance in realizing our abilities,
if we develop faith in ourselves, if we follow the promptings
of the Spirit in using our talents, then we can't help realiz-
ing more fully our own value in the sight of the Lord. We
have thus improved our relationship with ourselves and the
Lord, and in doing so we have also increased our faith in
God and in our fellow man. This increased faith must lead
to increased works and prayer. This cycle. .lmoj&a-Jiajanii. )c
and by following it we can accomplish our goal of self -fulfil-
ment and be of maximum service to the Lord.
L
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Forgiveness
Would it put us farther ahead to forgive a man or to
get revenge?
Before we answer this question let's just examine, first
of all, forgiveness. To forgive a man in any circumstances
costs us nothing. Let's say a man defrauded me, injured
my reputation, attempted my life; and suppose such an
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MAY 1964
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enemy is in my power, how much does it cost me to forgive
him? If I reduce him to poverty, it would make me no
richer ; to destroy his peace would not restore my own ;
to hurt him would not heal me, and to cast a blot on his
reputation wouldn't restore any luster to my name. If I
were to take his life, would this insure me against the stroke
of death or would I live any longer?
It is a happy memory that calls kindness and forgets
offenses. Someone said, "It is far more noble to conquer
one's passion than to crush a foe; and sweeter than grati-
fied revenge arThlsle"elihg£,w^
When we do forgive, we exhibit somewhat of the divine
in us ; something of the happiness of our Lord and God.
Who is the master of forgiveness, and who is the one
behind non-forgiveness? If we weighed each according
to the goodness and benefits which come from them, which
would weigh more? Am I going to collaborate with God
and forgiveness, or with Satan and be unforgiving, still
expecting the Lord to forgive me my derelictions and
shortcomings ?
Always remember that "It is far more noble to conquer
one's passion than to crush a foe."
Planning and
Imagination
BY RANDALL GREEN
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We dream ; we covet ; we aspire. We build our castles in the
sky. Now and then we get a faint glimpse of the infinite,
and our imaginations carry us far beyond the realm of
experience. The lofty heights to which our minds can take
us know no bounds.
And while some men dream, other men of shorter vision
laugh and mock those who allow their thoughts to rise above
reality. They cannot attain higher things because they
will not see beyond the here and now. They live today today
and tomorrow tomorrow on the quite logical and reasonable
assumption the present "now" is the only time with which
426
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
they can deal directly.
If all men were of this second group, we would live in
a static, unprogressive society, a society of people content
with their lot, complacent, resistent to change and new ideas.
We have seen this happen from time to time in the
world's history.
But yet, is there not some sense in their mockery?
What do wild dreams accomplish? A man can be realistic,
unimaginative, and yet hardworking — but is not the dreamer
also the idler? Then what is the answer to this riddle?
Someone put it in this way: ''It's all right to build your
castles in the sky — just put foundations under them."
This quotation serves to introduce my topic, planning
and imagination. I feel they are so strongly interde-
pendent that they should be treated together — in reverse
order: imagination and planning, or castles in the sky
and foundations.
But, you say, any builder knows you must start at the
foundation and work up. Yes, but who would build a build-
ing without first having a set of plans, and what architect
ever drew up a set of plans without having first a mental
image of the finished product? It has been said that the
cities men dream of are the ones in which their children
will live.
Anything worthwhile that has ever been accomplished
can be analyzed in the same way. True, many great dis-
coveries have resulted from unplanned accidents. But there
must be an observer with enough imagination to picture
its significance or it would go unnoticed, and someone must
devise a method of application or it would never be applied.
From these and countless other examples we could
analyze, we see a pattern emerging, and a fundamental truth
taking form. The author Karegan put it in this way:
"Nothing can be born that is not first conceived." And
hence the appellation we give our pet ideas — "brainchild."
It is a basic law of success, of accomplishment, of progress,
that we first must set a goal and then devise a plan by
which we can reach that goal. And as in all things, we
can turn to our Eternal Father for our example.
As imaginative as is the human mind, no people express
such lofty goals, nor with such confidence, as do we who
have envisioned in some degree the real purpose of existence.
We do not hesitate to aim at objectives with eternal perspec-
tive and proclaim our ultimate goal — that of becoming
like God.
To guide us in this eternal quest our Savior has pro-
vided a plan for us — a plan of salvation. He has outlined
in detail, step by step, the course we must take in returning
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MAY 1964
427
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to God's presence and obtaining exaltation. It is a perfect
plan ; but like all plans it is simply a long-range goal broken
down into an organized series of smaller goals, each within
easy reach of the last. This is the "secret" — set a goal,
plan well, take each step as it comes, keeping your eyes fixed
on the goal, and nothing shall be impossible. Oh, yes, and
incorporate faith and prayer.
So, following the divine pattern, we set a goal — say
making a branch into a ward by the end of 1964. We think.
We analyze. We sit down with the branch president and
determine just how many people and what kind of people
we need to make a ward organization. We examine what
we have to work with and then outline in detail what we
need to fill in the spaces. Then we plan just what must be
accomplished each month, each week, and each day. We get
the whole thing organized so that each day when we go out,
we know exactly where we're going and just what we're
looking for. This helps us think in terms of individuals
instead of "hours tracting." When we leave the "digs"
each morning, we simply put our plan into action, again
exercising faith, prayer, and imagination. By the end of
the day we're one step closer to our goal, one step closer
to being a ward, one step closer to filling a successful mis-
sion, and one step closer to eternal life.
S**f&°#
Courage and Purity
BY MICHAEL WOODWARD
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The world has seldom understood or sympathized with the
Lord's work and therefore has criticized and persecuted
his servants.
An unfortunate thing is that even many of the Lord's
own people do not understand his work, and they tend to
harass and socially criticize others who are endeavoring to
be perfect. People who take the gospel seriously must also
take upon themselves a cross of the shame of those who
will not so endeavor. Thus arises the need of courage, the
quality which prompted Paul to say :
428 THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation. . . ." (Rom. 1:16.)
Imagine the courage it must have taken Noah to
preach for 120 years, Lehi to embark into an unknown
world, Joseph Smith to publish fearlessly to the world
his revelations.
"Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up
your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye
may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that
ye may be able to stand." (D&C 27:15.)
In chemistry, there are two kinds of purity — medical
and chemical. Medically pure water is simply free from
living organisms which might spread disease. It may be
still full of dead organisms and tiny foreign bodies. One
might say it is chemically filthy. Chemically pure water,
usually distilled, is HL,0, and that's all. A comparison falls
strikingly here between chemical substances and characters.
Many people's characters are socially pure — that is, in the
eyes of people, friends, associates, church members, they
are beyond reproach and seemingly upright and honest
enough. But like medically pure water, if these individuals
were examined under a spiritual microscope, foreign bodies
would appear.
Jealousy, aspiration, greed, avarice are easily con-
cealed and though an individual possesses these faults, like
water, he may appear to be pure.
The individual whose heart is pure will stand any
examination or test. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for
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they shall see God." (3 Nephi 12:8.)
Enthusiasm and
Dedication
A chain reaction occurs within us each time we generate
a divine spark of enthusiasm. This chain reaction is started
by the Spirit of God, for in essence, such enthusiasm means
filled with the Spirit of God. From this divine spark we
MAY 1964
429
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can nurture a greater righteous force of enthusiasm. As
we apply our own motivations with the help of the Father,
then our inspired enthusiasm ripens. With the maturation
of this great force springs another and equally profound
quality, that of dedication. From the resulting total of
such enthusiasm and dedication come the fruits of our
labors, in reality what we are.
Rather than write an essay on the aspects and merits
of inspired enthusiasm and dedication, I will apply these
two divine attributes to myself and God's work by compar-
ing and analyzing their respective points given us in the
divine nature. Not from conceit but from practicality, I am
going to consider these points strictly in the first person.
Since divine enthusiasm means the Spirit of God within
me, it naturally follows that if I want this enthusiasm, then
I must have the Spirit of the Eternal Father. I know that
my body, in fact, my entire being, is one of his temples ; and
if I want the Spirit of God to dwell in it, then I must keep
it wholesome and near to the divine. I must never do any-
thing to dim the promptings of the Holy One. When my
temple is prepared for the Spirit of the Father, then it will
come just as naturally as dawn follows darkness. Once I
have this Divine Spirit, an enthusiasm, true and genuine,
will emanate from me. My inspired self will bespeak and
proclaim it more audibly than many words.
Such enthusiasm is the harbinger of other of the divine
nature qualities, among which is dedication. When I have
the qualities of enthusiasm and dedication which radiate
from the Spirit of God, then all of the nonessentials, trivial,
and even the extremely weighty aspects of these two quali-
ties are naturally accounted for. When such qualities come
from and are fed by the Spirit, I am in happy reality "con-
nected to my source of power." It now follows that my
only prerogative and desire is to dedicate myself enthusi-
astically to his work. Such things as living the mission
schedule and abiding by mission standards will naturally
become part of me.
When I am divinely enthusiastic and dedicated, others
will sense it and desire the same. My natural reaction
then will be to share the gospel. Ralph Waldo Emerson
said, "The only true gift is a portion of thyself."
430
THE IMPROVEMENT ERA
The
Last
Word
Did you ever hear of a
man who had striven all
his life faithfully and singly
toward an objective, and
in no measure attained it?
There are many wrong
ways oj doing a right
thing; but there never
was a right way of
doing a wrong thing.
Denying a fault, doubles it. Learn to obey before you command. — Solon
"Tommy, who started this?"
she demanded sharply. "Well,"
replied Tommy, "it all started
when Albert hit me back."
When you encoun-
ter stumbling stones
along the way, step
on them and go ahead.
The best thing to save for
your old age is yourself.
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of
that knowledge to love and imitate him.— Milton
The greatest remedy for anger is delay. -Seneca
Distance lends enchantment
But not when you're out of gas.
The price of an education is great — but
not nearly so great as the price of ignorance.
Among the footprints
in the sands of time
some people leave only
the marks of a heel.
A radio station phoned one
thousand men asking to
whom they were listening.
Eighty percent said their wives.
Give some weeds
an inch and they
will take a yard.
Habit is a cable ; we weave a thread of
it each day, and it becomes so strong
we cannot break it. - Horace Mann
When two quarrel, both are in the wrong.
LEOLA
GREEN
MERRILL
As each Sabbath dawns in Mountain America, KSL Radio greets it with outstanding music and the spoken
word on SABBATH PRELUDE. In this instance, the spoken word is by Leola Green Merrill, well known for
her reading talents in the field of literature. Music is designed to fit the mood of the Sabbath. You're
sure to enjoy Mrs. Merrill's selection of works to be presented and her intimate style of presentation.
SABBATH PRELUDE sets the pace for the outstanding day of great broadcasting to follow, including the
New York Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tabernacle Choir, Invitation to Learning, Science Editor, Face the
Nation, Capitol Cloakroom, Album of Music and Best in Music. Won't you join us next Sunday between
6:00 and 7:30 A.M. for SABBATH PRELUDE on . . .
r4&&o
1160 on Your Dial
Second Class Postage Paid
at Salt Lake City, Utah
The (Story of
ree doves
Bill Sleater had three loves
. . . his beautiful wife, a happy
little son, and a huge trans-
port truck which provided
their livelihood.
Healthy, husky, seemingly
self-sufficient, it took a lot of
persuasion to make Bill a
believer in the need for life
insurance. After quite a
struggle, he purchased a
Family Benefactor Plan with
Beneficial Life.
A short time later Bill had
his truck loaded with grain
and ready to roll. As he was
leaving town, he was struck
by a sudden and urgent desire
to kiss his wife once more
and have a final look at his
little boy.
Together Bill and Nancy
fondly looked at their son,
sleeping peacefully in his bed.
Smiling, Nancy said, "The
doctor told me today we're
going to have another one."
"That's wonderful!" Bill
kissed Nancy goodbye. "I'll
see you tomorrow."
Less than five minutes
later he was killed instantly
when his truck was hit by a
speeding train.
After the funeral, Bene-
ficial Life delivered to this
young widow a miracle of
paper and ink — a check for
$15,000. Nancy then knew
how blessed was the day that
Bill became a believer.
Another instance of the
wisdom and the miracle of
life insurance!
From the Beneficial Life files
BENEFICIAL LIFE
Virgil H. Smith, Pres. \^£^/ Salt Lake City, Utah
Over 600 million dollars of
life insurance in force.
jm
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